\ ;•  -.  v<'  -,i  *••.  *i 


T.  SHEBMAbT. 


MAJOK  GENERAL 


WILLIAM  T.  SHERMAN, 


CAMPAIGNS. 


BY  REV.  F.  SENOUR, 

AUTHOR  OF  "  MORGAN  AND  HIS  CAPTORS,"  "  THE  CHRISTIAN 
SOLDIER,"   ETC. 


*  I  cannot  say  a  word  too  highly  in  praise  of  General  Sherman's 
services,  from  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion  to  the  present  day. 
Suffice  it  to  say,  the  world's  history  gives  no  record  of  his  superiors, 
and  but  few  equals. 

"U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut.  G&n'L" 


CHICAGO: 

HENEY  M.  SHERWOOD,  PUBLISHER. 
1866. 


<—"•} 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1866, 
BY  REV.  P.  SENOUR, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States, 
for  the  Northern  District  of  Illinois. 


GIFT  OF 


DEDICATION. 


TO    THE 

BRAVE  OFFICERS  AND  SOLDIERS 

WHO  FOLLOWED 

THEIR  NOBLE  LEADER, 

Hfojor  General  S8ftlliam  ft.  S^ermatt, 

THROUGH 

LONG  MARCHES  AND  HARD-FOUGHT  BATTLES, 

AND  WHO   HAVE 

CROWNED  THEMSELVES  WITH  GLORY, 

THIS  WORK  IS 

MOST  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED, 

BY 

THE  AUTHOR. 


935147 


PREFACE 


{ Never  name  your  child  after  a  living  man,"  said  a  very 
wise  man  to  the  author  of  this  volume.  As  we  do  not 
know  what  the  future  of  any  man  will  be,  it  may  be  un 
wise  to  honor  him  by  giving  his  name  to  your  child.  For 
a  similar  reason,  it  may  be  injudicious  to  write  the  history 
of  a  living  man. 

Whatever  the  future  history  of  General  W.  T.  Sherman 
may  be,  the  world  witnesseth  that  he  has  carved  out  for 
himself  a  name  and  a  place  in  history,  and  won  a  home  in 
the  hearts  of  his  countrymen,  that  can  never  be  blotted 
out.  It  is  our  hope  and  prayer  to  God,  that  no  act  of  his 
in  the  future  may  tarnish  his  great  name  and  heroic  deeds. 

It  is  because  General  Sherman  has  occupied  so  promi 
nent  a  place  in  many  of  the  most  important  and  stirring 
scenes  of  the  great  war  against  the  rebellion,  that  we  have 
endeavored  to  cull  the  most  important  facts  and  incidents, 
and  make  as  full  and  fair  a  record  of  them  as  can  now  be 
done,  in  order  that  as  little  as  possible  of  valuable  history 
may  be  lost  to  posterity. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

GENERAL    SHERMAN'S    EARLY   HISTORY. 

Introductory  Remarks — Parentage  and  Birth  of  Sherman — 
Death  of  his  Father  —  Hon.  Thomas  Ewing  and  his  Friend 
ship —  Appointed  a  Cadet  at  West  Point — Graduated — His 
Rank— Enters  the  Service  of  the  United  States— In  the 
Florida  War— At  Fort  Moultrie— In  California— Promo 
tion — In  the  Commissary  Department — Military  Post  of 
New  Orleans — Resignation  and  Return  to  California — 
President  of  a  Military  Academy  in  Louisiana — Opposes 
Secession — Resignation  as  President — Incidents — A  Re 
markable  Law  Firm 15 

CHAPTER  II. 

GENERAL  SHERMAN  AND  THE  BATTLE  OF  BULL  RUN. 

The  Politicians'  Battle — General  Scott — Strength  of  the 
Army  —  The  Divisions — An  Imposing  Scene — Confidence 
of  the  People — Generals  McDowell  and  Tyler — Centreville 
and  Manassas — Position  of  the  Divisions  of  the  Army  — 
The  Moonlight  March  to  Battle — Plan  of  the  Battle  —  The 
Irish  Regiment — Part  taken  by  Sherman's  Brigade  —  The 
"Retreat  and  Panic — Sherman  at  Fort  Corcoran — Appointed 


X  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

a  Brigadier  —  In  Command  of  the  Department  of  the  Cum 
berland —  Relieved — At  Sedalia  and  Benton  Barracks  —  At 
Paducah  —  Incidents 31 

CHAPTER   III. 

GENERAL  SHERMAN  AND  THE  BATTLE  OP  PITTSBURG  LANDING. 

The  Battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  the  Most  Desperate  and  De 
cisive  of  the  War — The  Troops  Engaged  —  Skirmishing  — 
Battle  Opens  —  Surprise  of  Union  Troops  —  Sunday's  Fight 
—  The  Union  Troops  Driven  from  their  Camps  —  The  Lex 
ington  and  Tyler  —  The  Part  taken  by  them  —  Lew.  Wallace's 
and  Buell's  Forces  Arrive  —  Monday's  Operations  —  Cavalry 
Charge  by  Grant — Pursuit  by  Sherman  —  Grant's  Opinion 
of  Sherman  —  The  Part  taken  by  Sherman  and  his  Divi 
sion—Extract  from  Halleck's  Report — Sherman  a  Major 
General — The  Opinions  of  Distinguished  Generals — Inci 
dents — Sherman's  Letter  to  Professor  Coppee 52 

CHAPTER   IV. 

SHERMAN    AND    THE    SIEGE    OF    CORINTH. 

March  Towards  Corinth — Skirmishing  at  Monterey  and 
Purdy  —  Siege  of  Corinth  Commences — Battle  of  Russell's 
House — Evacuation  of  Corinth — Occupation  of  the  City  by 
the  Union  Troops — Pursuit  by  General  M.  L.  Smith  to 
Tuscumbia  Creek  —  Sherman's  Congratulatory  Order — In 
cidents — Takes  Possession  of  Holly  Springs — Appointed 
Military  Commander  of  Memphis,  Tennessee 84 

CHAPTER   V. 

SHERMAN    AND    THE    CAMPAIGNS    AGAINST    VICKSBURG. 

Preparations  for  the  Vicksburg  Campaign — Sherman's  Com 
mand  Sails  for  Vicksburg  —  Arrival  at  Johnston's  Land 
ing —  First  Assault  upon  Vicksburg — McClernand  takes 


CONTENTS.  XI 

PAGE 
Command  —  Sherman's  Congratulatory  Order  to  his  Troops 

— Capture  of  Arkansas  Post — Steele's  Bayou  Expedition — 
Feint  on  the  North  of  Vicksburg  —  Fight  at  Fourteen  Mile 
Creek — Advance  upon  Jackson — Occupation  of  the  City  — 
Battle  of  Big  Black  River  —  Takes  Possession  of  Walnut 
Hills — Second  Assault  upon  Vicksburg  —  Surrender — Oc 
cupation —  Pursuit  after  Johnston — Second  Occupation  of 
Jackson — Recommended  by  General  Grant  for  Promotion 
as  Brigadier  General  of  Regular  Army 107 

CHAPTER  VI. 
SHERMAN'S  GREAT  MARCH  TO  CHATTANOOGA,  AND  THE  BATTLES  or 

MISSIONARY   RIDGE   AND    LOOKOUT    MOUNTAIN. 

Brief  Rest  of  Sherman's  Command — Starts  for  Chattanooga — 
Narrow  Escape  of  Sherman — The  Fight  at  Cane  Creek — 
Takes  Command  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee — Arrives  at 
Chattanooga — Battle  Before  Chattanooga — First  Day's  Bat 
tle —  Second  Day — Battle  of  Lookout  Mountain,  Third 
Day — Account  of  an  Eye  Witness  of  the  Battle  of  Tunnel 
Hill — Battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  —  Incidents 135 

CHAPTER  VII. 

SHERMAN    AND   THE    SIEGE    OF    KNOXVILLE,    AND    THE    EXPEDITION 
THROUGH   MISSISSIPPI. 

Pursuit  of  the  Enemy  after  the  Battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  — 
March  to  Knoxville  to  Relieve  Burnside — Returns  to  Chat 
tanooga — At  Memphis — Letter  of  Sherman — Expedition 
through  Mississippi  —  Incident 153 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

SHERMAN'S  GREAT  CAMPAIGN  FROM  CHATTANOOGA  TO  ATLANTA. 

Sherman  Appointed  the  Successor  of  Grant — Tour  of  Inspec 
tion  and  Plan  of  the  Campaign — Commencement  of  the 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

PA<JE. 
Campaign  —  Strength  of  the  Army — The  Strength  of  the 

Enemy — Position  of  our  Forces  on  the  6th  of  May— The 
Enemy  Flanked  out  of  their  Position  at  Dalton — The  Battle 
of  Resaca —  The  Result — Incidents...,  ,...167 


CHAPTER  IX. 
SHERMAN'S  GREAT  CAMPAIGN  FROM  CHATTANOOGA  TO  ATLANTA. 

The  Pursuit  of  the  Enemy  —  Their  Wounded — Order  of  the 
Pursuit — An  Ambuscade — Fighting  and  Skirmishing — An 
Account  by  an  Eye- Witness — Capture  of  Rome,  Kingston 
and  Cassville — Guerrilla  Operations — Movement  across 
the  Etowah — Skirmishing — Loss  of  Wagons — The  Gal 
lant  Action  of  the  25th — Another  Ambuscade — Sherman's 
Object — A  Furious  Assault — Occupation  of  Dallas — The 
Situation  on  June  1st — Sherman's  Strategy  —  The  Enemy 
Abandoned  their  Works — Sherman's  Dispatch — What  the 
Army  had  Accomplished  —  Character  of  Sherman  — 
Incidents 194 

CHAPTER  X. 
SHERMAN'S  GREAT  CAMPAIGN  FROM  CHATTANOOGA  TO  ATLANTA. 

Operations  of  the  Army  from  June  7th  to  the  Capture  of 
Atlanta — Sherman's  Report — Efforts  to  Break  the  Enemy's 
Lines  Between  Kenesaw  and  Pine  Mountains — Death  of 
General  Polk  —  McPherson's  Operations  —  Two  Direct 
Assaults  —  Kenesaw  Abandoned  —  The  Pursuit  —  Pass 
age  of  the  Chattahoochee — The  Battle  of  the  20th — John 
ston  Relieved — Attack  on  our  Right — Positions  of  our 
Forces — Sudden  Attack — Death  of  McPherson — Grand 
Movement  of  the  Right  Flank — Kilpatrick's  Operations — 
Sherman's  Flank  Movement  and  the  Capture  of  Atlanta — 
Bombardment  of  Atlanta — Sherman's  Congratulatory  Order.. 218 


CONTENTS 

PAG« 
CHAPTER  XI. 

SHERMAN'S  GREAT  CAMPAIGN  FROM  CHATTANOOGA  TO  ATLANTA. 
Additional  Accounts  of  the  Campaign— The  Value  of   this 
Chapter — Campaign  Reviewed  by  a  Distinguished  General.. 237 

CHAPTER  XII. 

SHERMAN  AND  THE  OCCUPATION  OF  ATLANTA. 

Sherman  a  Military  Genius— Opinions  of  his  Campaign  — The 
London  Times  and  London  Star — Measures  for  Holding 

Atlanta Citizens   Ordered   from   Atlanta — Sherman   and 

Hood Their  Correspondence — An  Atlanta  Exile — Perma 
nent  Occupation  Intended — Operations  of  Forrest  and 
Others— Hood's  Northern  Movement— Attack  and  Repulse 
at  Altoona— The  Pursuit— Hood  Crosses  the  Tennessee- 
Sherman's  Plans— Battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville- 
Sherman  Returns  to  Atlanta — A  Facetious  Letter 262 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

SHERMAN'S  GRAND  MARCH  FROM  ATLANTA  TO  SAVANNAH. 
Movement  Towards  Atlanta — Preparations  for  the  March — 
The  Army — Orders  of  Sherman  and  Slocum — Concen 
tration  of  Forces — The  "  Gate  City"  Burned — Communi 
cations  Cut  Off — Under  a  Cloud — The  Enemy  Deceived — 
The  Rebel  Press— The  General  Lines  of  the  March— Pro 
gress  of  the  Army — Fight  at  Griswoldville — Encamped  on 
Howell  Cobb's  Farm — Milledgeville  Occupied — Incident — 
March  to  Millen  and  Savannah  —  Scouts  Sent  Out  — 
Howard's  Dispatch  to  the  Navy— Fort  McAllister  Cap 
tured — Journal  of  the  March — Investment  and  Capture  of 
Savannah — Poetry  — Sherman's  Orders — Correspondence 

— British  Consul  at  Savannah 296 

B 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

SHERMAN'S  CAMPAIGN  IN  THE  CAROLINAS. 
The  Consummation  of  the  Great  Plan — Movements  of  the  Two 
Wings  of  the  Army,  Under  Howard  and  Slocum  —  Transfer 
of  the  Forts  and  City  to  General  Foster — Capture  of  Fort 
Fisher  by  Porter  and  Terry — Determination  of  Sherman — 
Strategy  a*  the  Salkehatchie — Wading  Through  Deep 
Water — Pursuit  of  the  Enemy  to  Branchville — Destruction 
of  the  Railroad — Official  Report  of  Sherman — Fall  of 
Charleston  —  Horrors  of  the  Evacuation  —  Incidents 361 

CHAPTER  XV. 

SHERMAN'S  CAMPAIGN  IN  THE  CAROLINAS. 
In  the  Heart  of  North  Carolina — Results  of  the  Campaign — 
The  Sentinels — Davis  and  an  English  Paper — Advance  of 
Sherman  and  Retreat  of  the  Enemy — Effect  of  the  Capture 
of  Richmond — Fall  of  Richmond,  and  Surrender  of  Lee's 
Army  —  Cooperation  of  Sherman — Memorandum  or  Agree 
ment  Between  Sherman  and  Johnston — Special  Order  of 
Sherman — Disapproval  of  the  Agreement  by  the  Cabinet — 

Grant  Sent  to  North  Carolina — Result  of  his  Mission 

Explanation  of  Sherman's  Course — Remarks 406 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

SHERMAN'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT  AND  FAREWELL  ADDRESS. 
The  March  by  Way  of  Richmond  to  Washington — The  Grand 
Military  Review — Official  Report  and  Farewell  Address 431 


GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

HIS  LIFE  AND  CAMPAIGNS. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

GEN.  SHERMAN'S  EARLY  HISTORY. 

INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS  — PARENTAGE  AND  BIRTH  OP 
SHERMAN  —  DEATH  OF    HIS   FATHER  —  HON.   THOMAS 

EWING  AND   HIS   FRIENDSHIP APPOINTED  A  CADET 

AT  WEST  POINT  —  GRADUATED HIS  RANK ENTERS 

THE  SERVICE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES IN  THE  FLO 
RIDA  WAR  — AT  FORT  MOULTRIE  — IN  CALIFORNIA  — 

PROMOTION IN    THE    COMMISSARY    DEPARTMENT 

MILITARY    POST     OF    NEW     ORLEANS RESIGNATION 

AND  RETURN  TO  CALIFORNIA PRESIDENT  OF  A  MIL 
ITARY  ACADEMY  IN  LOUISIANA  — OPPOSES  SECESSION 
—  RESIGNATION  AS  PRESIDENT  —  INCIDENTS  —  A  RE 
MARKABLE  LAW  FIRM. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  civil  war  in  our 
country,  the  want  of  well  known  and  able  military 
leaders,  placed  our  Government  in  a  most  embar 
rassing  situation.  It  was  well  known  that  the 
noble  old  military  hero,  General  "Winfield  Scott, 
was  too  infirm  to  command  our  armies,  and  lead 
them  on  to  victory  after  victory,  until  the  flag  of 


16  MAJ.  GSN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 


n,1  wjiich  liad  been  struck  down  by  trai 
tors,  should  again  Wave  over  every  inch  of  the  ter 
ritory  that  rightly  belonged  to  the  Government. 

One  leader  after  another  was  selected,  and  each, 
in  his  turn,  was  hailed  as  a  hero  by  the  people, 
until  bitter  experience  taught  them  to  call  no  man 
a  hero  before  he  had  proved  himself  worthy  of 
that  title,  by  heroic  achievements  on  the  field  of 
conflict.  As  one  general  after  another  failed,  the 
people  became  anxious,  and  prayed  that  God  would 
raise  up  men  who  would  lead  our  brave  armies  on 
to  victory  and  glory.  These  prayers  were  an 
swered.  In  Generals  Grant,  Sherman,  Thomas, 
and  Sheridan,  the  people  recognize  the  men  for 
whom  they  looked  and  prayed.  While  all  these 
men  have  acted  well  and  nobly  their  part,  and 
have  covered  themselves  with  imperishable  glory, 
none  of  them  have  done  more  to  make  a  name 
in  history,  and  to  be  remembered  by  a  free  and 
grateful  posterity,  than  Major  General  WILLIAM 
TECUMSEH  SHERMAN. 

General  Sherman  is  the  son  of  Hon.  Charles  R. 
Sherman,  once  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  State  of  Ohio;  and  a  brother  of  the  Hon.  John 
Sherman,  United  States  Senator  from  the  same 
State.  He  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Ohio,  on  the 
eighth  day  of  February,  A.  D.  1820. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  37 

Judge  Sherman  died  when  William,  Ms  present 
distinguished  son  was  only  eight  years  of  age. 
During  the  lifetime  of  the  Judge,  he  was  a  warm 
friend  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  Ewing,  of  Ohio.  That 
honorable  gentleman  heartily  reciprocated  and  ap 
preciated  his  friendship.  After  his  death,  he  took 
his  son  William  to  his  home,  and  treated  him  as 
one  of  his  family,  and  secured  to  him  important 
educational  advantages.  Through  his  influence, 
young  Sherman  was  undoubtedly,  admitted  into 
the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  as  a  cadet 
appointed  from  the  State  of  Ohio.  This  important 
event  took  place  in  the  year  1836,  when  he  was 
about  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  pursued  the  cur 
riculum  of  studies,  prescribed  and  required  by  that 
institution,  with  credit  and  honor  to  himself,  until 
the  30th  of  June,  1840,  when  he  was  graduated, 
ranking  sixth,  in  a  class  of  forty-two  members. 

The  day  after  Sherman  was  graduated,  at  West 
Point,  he  entered  the  regular  service  of  the  United 
States,  and  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  Second 
Lieutenant  of  artillery,  and  was  connected  with 
the  Third  Regiment.  His  services,  in  this  office, 
were  of  such,  a  character  as  to  secure  for  him, 
within  a  few  months,  promotion  to  the  rank  of 
First  Lieutenant. 

Lieutenant  Sherman  and  his  company  were  en 
gaged  in  the  Florida  war  with  the  Indians.  He 


18.  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 


soon  became  well  known  as  a  strategist,  and 
distinguished  for  prompt  movements  and  rapid 
marching. 

In  the  year  1841,  Sherman  was  ordered  to  Fort 
Moultrie,  in  Charleston  harbor,  which  fort  haa 
since  become  quite  famous  in  the  early  history  of 
the  rebellion. 

In  the  year  1846,  Lieutenant  Sherman  was  sent 
to  California,  where  he  was  appointed  to  the  posi 
tion  of  an  acting  assistant  adjutant  general.  He 
administered  the  affairs  of  his  office  with  so  much 
ability,  that  Congress,  in  March,  1851,  appointed 
him  a  brevet  captain  in  the  regular  army,  to  date 
from  May  30th,  1848,  "  for  meritorious  service  in 
California  during  the  war  with  Mexico." 

In  the  year  1850,  Sherman  was  appointed  a  Com 
missary  of  Subsistence,  with  the  rank  of  captain, 
and  was  connected  with  the  department  of  the 
West,  his  headquarters  being  at  St.  Louis.  Sub 
sequently,  he  was  ordered  to  the  military  post  at 
New  Orleans,  where  he  had  the  opportunity  of  be 
coming  acquainted  with  many  Southern  people, 
their  political  views  and  institutions.  This  knowl 
edge  has  since  been  of  great  value  to  him  and  the 
Government. 

In  the  year  1853,  Sherman  resigned  his  office  in 
the  United  States  army,  and  removed  to  Califor 
nia,  where  he  was  connected  with  the  well  known 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  19 

banking  house  of  Lucas,  Turner  &  Co.,  of  San 
Francisco,  for  a  period  of  about  four  years.  "While 
in  that  position,  he  acquired  a  good  reputation  as 
a  business  man.  Here  he  had  a  connection  with 
the  State  military  organizations,  and  took  an  ac 
tive  part  in  suppressing  the  lawless  mobs  that  once 
disgraced  that  city. 

Sherman  returned  to  the  States,  practiced  law  in 
Kansas,  and  afterwards  was  appointed  President 
of  the  Military  Academy  of  the  State  of  Louisiana, 
where  he  trained  not  a  few  of  the  men  whom  he 
has  since  fought  and  conquered. 

In  the  autumn  of  1860,  when  the  secession  move 
ment  commenced  in  the  Southern  States,  many  and 
strong  inducements  were  offered  to  him  to  unite 
his  destiny  with  the  cause  of  the  South,  but  they 
were  all  in  vain.  On  the  26th  of  January,  1861, 
the  Convention  of  the  State  of  Louisiana  passed 
the  ordinance  of  secession;  whereupon,  Sherman 
tendered  to  the  State  of  Louisiana  his  resignation 
as  President  of  the  Military  School,  and  at  once 
proceeded  North,  to  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  In 
fact,  Sherman  personally  had  given  notice  of  his 
intention  to  resign,  in  the  event  that  Louisiana 
seceded. 

The  following  is  a  true  copy  of  his  letter  of 
resignation : 


20  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

January  18th,  1860. 
Gov.  THOMAS  0.  MOORE, 

Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana. 

SIR  :  As  I  occupy  a  quasi-military  position  under  this  State, 
I  deem  it  proper  to  acquaint  you,  that  I  accepted  such  position, 
when  Louisiana  was  a  State  in  the  Union ;  and  when  the  motto  of 
the  Seminary  was  inserted  in  marble,  over  the  main  door,  "  By 
the  liberality  of  the  General  Government  of  the  United  States." 
The  Union  JEsto  Perpetua. 

"  Recent  events  foreshadow  a  great  change,  and  it  becomes  all 
men  to  choose.  If  Louisiana  withdraws  from  the  Federal  Union, 
I  prefer  to  maintain  my  allegiance  to  the  old  Constitution  as  long 
as  a  fragment  of  it  survives ;  and  my  longsr  stay  here  would  be 
wrong  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  In  that  event,  I  beg  you  will 
send,  or  appoint  some  authorized  agent  to  take  charge  of  the 
arms  and  munitions  of  war  here,  belonging  to  the  State,  or  direct 
me  what  disposition  should  be  made  of  them. 

"  And  furthermore;  as  President  of  Board  of  Supervisors,  I 
beg  you  to  take  immediate  steps  to  relieve  me  as  Superintendent 
the  moment  the  State  determines  to  secede  ;  for  on  no  earthly  ac 
count  will  I  do  any  act,  or  think  any  thought,  hostile  to  or  in  de 
fiance  of  the  old  Government  of  the  United  States. 
"  With  Great  Respect,  &c., 

"W.  T.  SHERMAN." 

INCIDENTS. 

"When  Sherman  was  a  member  of  the  Hon. 
Mr.  Swing's  family,  it  is  said  that,  with  childlike 
simplicity,  he  would  sometimes  speak  of  a  little 
daughter  of  that  gentleman  as  "  his  sweetheart." 
"  Coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before."  In 
the  year  1850,  Captain  W.  T.  Sherman  and  Miss 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  21 

Ellen  E.  Ewing  were  united  in  the  bonds  of  mat 
rimony. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  secession  excitement, 
before  the  election  of  1860,  and  when  Sherman 
was  President  of  the  Military  Academy,  in  Louis 
iana,  a  party  of  secessionists  approached  him,  for 
the  purpose  of  inducing  him  to  unite  with  the 
South  in  the  rebellion,  when,  it  is  said,  the  follow 
ing  conversation  took  place : 

"Gentlemen,"  said  Sherman,  "while  I  am  in 
the  South,  I  shall  do  nothing,  and  say  nothing,  in 
opposition  to  the  Southern  interests;  but  I  will 
never  join  in  any  movement  that  may  lead  to  an 
armed  resistance  to  the  authority  of  the  United 
States.  I  have  fought  under  the  <  Stars  and  Stripes ' 
too  long  to  be  induced  to  raise  my  hand  for  its 
downfall." 

"  Mr.  Sherman,"  replied  one  of  the  party,  "  we 
have  no  intention  to  go  to  war  with  the  United 
States.  We  have  so  divided  the  North  that  if  the 
Abolitionists  should  even  elect  the  next  President, 
we  can  so  cripple  his  power  that  he  can  do  nothing 
to  resist  a  secession  of  the  Gulf  States,  and  the 
establishment  of  a  separate  Government." 

"If  you  suppose,  gentlemen,"  said  Sherman, 
"  that  the  North  will  allow  any  portion  of  this  glo 
rious  Union  to  be  severed  from  the  remainder,  you' 
will  find  yourselves  mistaken.  I  tell  you  it  will 


22  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

lead  to  war,  and  a  cruel  war ;  but  the  Union  must 
be  kept  intact." 

<  But  our  slaves  ? " 

"  When  it  is  a  question  of  preserving  the  unity 
of  the  country,  slavery  and  all  other  abstract  prin 
ciples  will  have  to  succumb.  Your  very  supporters 
in  tbe  North  will  turn  against  you,  and  will  fly  to 
arms  to  preserve  the  honor  of  their  flag,  and  the 
integrity  of  the  Union.  Gentlemen,  you  have  my 
answer." 

As  the  party  left  the  presence  of  Sherman,  the 
following  conversation  occurred  among  themselves : 

"  I  do  not  like  to  trust  that  man.  I  do  not  be 
lieve  he  is  true  to  the  cause  of  the  South." 

"  I  think  you  are  mistaken,"  replied  another  one 
of  the  party.  "  He  speaks  plainly  and  fearlessly, 
which  shows  that  he  is  not  afraid  of  us.  I  would 
rather  trust  an  outspoken  man  like  that,  than  all  the 
oily,  sneaking  fellows,  whose  remarks  are  fair  to  our 
face,  yet  who,  for  a  few  dollars,  would  betray  our 
very  wives  to  our  enemies.  When  the  time  comes, 
and  he  sees  we  are  likely  to  separate  from  the  K~orth 
in  reality,  he  will  readily  join  us.  Besides,"  con 
tinued  the  speaker,  "  he  is  too  good  an  officer  for 
us  to  part  with,  if  we  can  only  retain  him  with 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  23 

The  following  extract  will  be  read  with  interest, 
as  giving  a  part  of  the  history  of  this  remarkable 
man: 

A  REMARKABLE  LAW  FIRM,  AND  A  QUARTETTE  OF 

GENERALS. 
[From  the  Leavenworth  Conservative.] 

Citizens  of  Leavenworth  will  remember  that 
there  stood,  on  Main  street,  between  Delaware  and 
Shawnee,  in  1857-8-9,  on  the  ground  now  occupied 
by  handsome  brick  buildings,  a  shabby  looking, 
tumbling,  cottonwood  shell.  It  was  occupied,  on 
the  ground  floor,  by  Hampton  P.  Denman,  ex- 
Mayor,  as  a  land  agency  office.  The  rooms  above 
were  reached  by  a  crazy  looking  stairway  on  the 
outside,  up  which  none  ever  went  without  dread  of 
their  falling.  Dingy  signs  informed  the  curious 
that  within  was  a  "law  shop,"  kept  by  Hugh 
Ewing,  Thomas  Ewing,  Jr.,  "W.  T.  Sherman,  and 
Daniel  McCook.  These  constituted  the  firm  known 
here  as  Ewing,  Sherman  &  McCook.  All  were 
comparatively  young  men.  All  were  ambitious; 
the  one  who  has  gained  the  greatest  fame,  perhaps, 
the  least  so  of  the  associated  lawyers.  The  Ewings 
had  the  advantage  of  high  culture,  considerable 
natural  abilities,  cold,  impressive  temperaments, 
and  a  powerful  family  influence,  to  aid  their  aspi 
rations.  Hugh  Ewing  was  but  little  known  here 
abouts,  though  acknowledged  to  be  a  brilliant  and 


24  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

versatile  genius  by  his  friends.  "Young  Tom," 
as  the  other  scion  is  familiarly  called,  has  always 
been  a  prominent  and  influential  man. 

The  third  member  of  the  firm  fills,  to-day,  one 
of  the  proudest  pages  in  the  history  of  our  land. 
His  name  and  fame  take  rank  with  the  greatest  of 
earth.  All  conspire  to  do  him  honor.  Aliens  bow 
to  his  genius,  and  enemies  show  the  extent  of  their 
fears  of  its  power,  by  the  virulence  of  their  hate 
and  its  manifestations. 

W.  T.  Sherman  never  mingled  in  our  public 
affairs.  He  lived  among  us  for  several  months, 
having  some  landed  interests  here.  An  outlying 
part  of  our  city  plat  is  marked  on  the  maps  as  "  Sher 
man's  Addition."  Prior  to  entering  upon  the  prac 
tice  of  the  law  in  this  city,  he  lived  for  some  time 
in  the  vicinity  of  Topeka,  upon  a  farm  of  160  acres, 
which  we  believe  he  still  owns.  His  neighbors  tell 
of  his  abrupt  manner ;  reserved,  yet  forcible  speech 
and  character.  Previous  to  his  residing  in  Kansas, 
Sherman  had  lived  in  California,  where,  as  a  miner, 
banker,  and  lawyer,  he  made  and  lost  a  large  for 
tune.  A  graduate  of  West  Point,  he  had  previously 
held  a  captain's  commission  in  the  Topographical 
Engineer  Corps,  and,  in  pursuance  of  duty,  had 
made  several  important  surveys  and  explorations, 
the  reports  of  which  had  been  duly  published  by 


AKD   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  25 

the  Government.     They  relate  principally  to  routes 
for  the  Pacific  Railroad. 

The  fourth  memher  of  the  firm,  Daniel  McCook, 
was  known  and  appreciated  here  by  the  fraternity 
as  one  of  the  best  of  "good  fellows."  He  was 
young,  active,  ardent,  an  intense  partisan  and  am 
bitious  wight,  who  held  the  tolerable  good  opinion 
of  his  capacity — common  to  the  "  pin  -feather" 
state  of  the  genus  homo.  "  Dan."  practiced  law  be 
fore  the  lower  courts,  doing  the  justice  and  pro 
bate,  and  always  having  plenty  of  work  in  the 
United  States  District  Court,  which  was  often  the 
scene  of  amusing  sparring  between  him  and  the 
Judge — the  able,  but  indecent  Petit — whose  judg 
ments  Dan.  was  in  the  habit  of  freely  criticising. 

All  of  the  firm  were  "Buckeyes,"  the  Ewings 
being  the  sons  of  the  able  and  venerable  Hon. 
Thomas  Ewing,  of  that  State.  Sherman  is  con 
nected  with  them  by  marriage.  He  is  a  brother 
of  Senator  Sherman.  McCook  belonged  to  the 
since  famous  "  fighting"  family  of  that  name.  His 
father  was  the  well  known  Major  McCook,  who 
was  killed  in  the  Ohio  Morgan  raid.  One  brother 
was  killed  at  the  first  Bull  Run  battle.  Another 
was  the  Brigadier  General  McCook,  murdered  by 
guerrillas  in  Tennessee.  Another  brother  or  uncle, 
we  know  not  which,  is  the  famous  Major  General 
c 


26  MA.T.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEKMAN, 

McCook,  of  the  armies  of  the  Cumberland  and 
Tennessee. 

In  politics,  the  firm  were  unequally  proportioned 
—  Thomas  Ewing,  Jr.,  being  a  conservative  Kepub- 
lican,  while  his  brother  Hugh,  Sherman,  and 
McCook,  were  all  Democrats,  the  latter  being  an 
active  local  politician,  and,  at  one  time,  elected 
Probate  Judge  of  this  county.  The  city  being 
then  largely  Democratic,  and  somewhat  pro-slavery, 
the  firm  possessed  considerable  influence. 

A  good  story  is  told  of  Sherman's  experience  as 
counsel,  and  of  his  dissolution  of  partnership  to 
take  the  position  held  by  him  when  the  war  broke 
out— that  of  the  Military  College  of  Louisiana. 

While  in  the  practice  of  the  law  here,  Sherman 
was  consulting  partner,  having  an  almost  insur 
mountable  objection  to  pleading  in  court.  He  is 
accorded  the  possession,  as  a  lawyer,  of  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  legal  principles ;  a  clear,  logical  per 
ception  of  the  points  and  equity  involved  in  any 
case.  He  could  present  his  views  in  the  most  di 
rect  manner,  stripped  of  all  verbiage,  yet  perfectly 
accurate  in  form.  He  was  perfectly  an  fait  in  the 
authorities. 

But  to  return  to  our  story.  Shortly  after  the  re 
ception  of  the  offer  .from  the  Governor  of  Louis 
iana,  in  relation  to  the  college,  Sherman  was 
compelled  to  appear  before  the  Probate  Judge— 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  27 

Gardner,  we  believe.  The  other  partners  were 
busy,  and  Sherman,  with  his  authorities  and  the 
case  all  mapped  out,  proceeded  to  court.  He  re 
turned  in  a  rage  two  hours  after.  Something  had 
gone  wrong.  He  had  been  pettifogged  out  of  the 
case  by  a  sharp  petty  attorney  opposed  to  him,  in  a 
way  which  was  disgusting  to  his  intellect  and  his 
convictions.  His  amour  propre  was  hurt,  and  he 
swore  that  he  would  have  nothing  more  to  do  with 
the  law  in  this  State.  That  afternoon,  the  business 
was  closed,  partnership  dissolved,  and  in  a  very 
short  time  Sherman  was  on  his  way  to  a  more  con 
genial  clime  and  occupation.  The  war  found  him 
in  Louisiana,  and,  in  despite  of  his  strong  pro- 
slavery  opinions,  found  him  an  intense  and  devoted 
patriot. 

We  met  him  here,  and,  though  but  slightly  ac 
quainted,  have  remembered  ever  since  the  impres 
sion  he  left  on  our  mind.  He  sphered  himself  to 
our  perception  as  the  most  remarkable  intellectual 
embodiment  of  force  it  had  been  our  fortune  to  en 
counter.  Once  since  we  met  him,  in  our  lines  be 
fore  Corinth,  where  he  had  command  of  the  right 
wing  of  Halleck's  magnificent  army.  The  same 
impression  was  given  then,  combined  with  the  idea 
of  nervous  vitality,  angularity  of  character,  and 
intense  devotion  to  what  he  had  in  hand.  Sherman 
is  truly  an  idealist,  even  to  fanaticism,  though,  in 


28  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

all  probability,  if  told  so,  lie  would  retort  back  an 
unbelieving  sarcasm.  He  outlines  himself  to  our 
memory  as  a  man  of  middle  stature,  nervous,  mus 
cular  frame,  with  a  long,  keen  head,  sharply  defined 
from  the  forehead,  and  back  of  the  ears.  His  eyes 
have  an  introverted  look,  but  full  of  smouldering 
fire.  His  mouth  is  sharp  and  well  cut ;  the  lower 
part  of  the  face  powerful,  though  not  heavy.  His 
complexion  fair,  hair  and  beard  of  a  sandy  red, 
straight,  short,  and  strong.  His  temperament  is 
nervous -sanguine,  and  he  is  full  of  crochets  and 
prejudices,  which,  however,  never  stand  in  the  way 
of  practical  results.  The  idea,  or  rather  object, 
which  rules  him,  for  the  time,  overrides  everything 
else.  Round  the  mouth,  we  remember  a  gleam  of 
saturnine  humor,  and  in  the  eyes  a  look  of  kind 
ness,  which  would  attract  to  him  the  caresses  of 
children. 

Such  are  the  impressions  left  on  our  mind  by 
the  only  military  educated  member  of  this  legal 
quartette — all  of  whom  have  held  commissions  as 
generals  in  the  army. 

Hugh  Ewing  went  early  into  the  war,  as  Colonel 
of  an  Ohio  regiment,  to  which  State  he  had  re 
turned  before  the  rebellion.  He  was  soon  promo 
ted  to  a  Brigadiership.  He  has  served  honorably 
through  most  of  the  campaigns  in  the  central  south. 
He  has  been  wounded  more  than  once. 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  29 

Dan  Me  Cook's  name  has  passed  into  history,  as 
one  of  the  most  gallant  young  lives  offered  as  a 
sacrifice  to  secure  American  nationality.  He  was, 
we  think,  the  second  captain  mustered  in  from  this 
State,  in  the  veteran  First  Kansas,  as  early  as  the 
beginning  of  May,  1861.  He  was  all  through  its 
famous  Missouri  campaign,  under  Lyon.  His 
friends  here  remember  the  jubilant  expression  to 
which  his  ambition  gave  vent,  when  he  first  left  for 
the  field :  "  Here's  for  a  colonel's  epaulettes,  or  a 
soldier's  grave."  He  knew  not  how  prophetic  was 
the  utterance.  He  won  the  first,  and  more,  and 
the  latter  is  now  his  lasting  inheritance  of  fame. 
After  the  regiment  returned  to  Kansas,  in  the  Fall 
of  1861,  Captain  Dan  was  placed  on  staff  duty,  we 
believe,  with  one  of  the  Generals  Me  Cook,  then 
in  Kentucky.  Soon  after,  he  was  prostrated  with 
sickness.  On  recovering,  he  raised,  and  com 
manded  the  Fifty-Second  Ohio.  For  a  long  time 
he  was  acting  Brigadier,  participating  through  all 
Rosecrans'  famous  campaigns  in  Tennessee.  He 
was  wounded,  and  after  promotion  as  Brigadier, 
returned  to  Ohio  sick,  where  he  died. 

"As  man  may,  he  fought  his  fight, 

Proved  his  truth  by  his  endeavor; 
Let  him  sleep  in  solemn  night, 
Sleep  forever,  and  forever." 


30  MAJ.  -GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

The  remaining  member  of  the  firm.  General 
Thomas  Ewing,  Jr.,  is  too  well  known  to  need  par 
ticularizing  by  us.  The  war  found  him  our  Chief 
Justice.  In  the  summer  of  1862,  he  resigned, 

o  / 

raised  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  became  its  colonel, 
and  participated  in  all  the  engagements  of  the 
Army  of  the  Frontier,  during  the  following  Fall  and 
"Winter.  He  was  afterward  promoted  to  a  Briga- 
diership,  and  has  since  been  in  command  of  the 
"Western  Missouri  and  Kansas  District.  He  has, 
for  over  a  year,  been  in  command  of  the  District 
of  Southeast  Missouri,  with  St.  Louis  as  headquar 
ters,  where  he  is  popular.  His  undoubted  admin 
istrative  ability  comes  into  play  there.  The  defense 
of,  and  retreat  from,  Pilot  Knob,  during  the  late 
campaign,  reflect  great  credit  upon  his  skill  and 
courage  as  a  soldier. 

Taking  it  all  in  all,  the  legal  military  firm,  of 
which  we  have  been  giving  these  random  notes,  is 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  proofs  of  the  versatil 
ity  and  adaptability  of  the  American  character, 
that  the  war,  fruitful  as  it  has  been  in  examples,  has 
yet  produced. 


CHAPTER  II. 

GENERAL  SHERMAN  AND  THE  BATTLE  OP  BULL  RUN. 

THE  POLITICIANS'  BATTLE  —  GEN.  SCOTT  —  STRENGTH  OP 

THE  ARMY  —  THE  DIVISIONS AN  IMPOSING  SCENE 

CONFIDENCE  OF  THE  PEOPLE GENERALS  MCDOWELL 

AND  TYLER- — CENTREVILLE  AND  MANASSAS POSITION 

OF  THE  DIVISIONS  OF  THE  ARMY THE  MOONLIGHT 

MARCH  TO  BATTLE PLAN  OF  THE  BATTLE THE  IRISH 

REGIMENT PART  TAKEN  BY  SHERMAN'S  BRIGADE 

THE  RETREAT  AND  PANIC SHERMAN  AT  FORT  CORCO 
RAN APPOINTED  A  BRIGADIER IN  COMMAND  OF  THE 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND RELIEVED AT 

SEDALIA   AND  BENTON   BARRACKS AT   PADUCAH 

INCIDENTS. 

Before  giving  the  history  of  the  part  taken  by 
Colonel,  now  General  Sherman,  in  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  it  may  be  necessary  to  make  a  few  pre 
liminary  statements,  that  we  may  have  a  clearer 
understanding  of  what  that  gallant  officer  did,  in 
that  most  remarkable  battle  of  the  Rebellion. 

That  battle  ought  to  be  called  the  "  politicians' 
battle."  Politicians  most  clamorously  urged  the 
President  and  the  Cabinet,  and  pressed  General 
Scott  to  attack  the  enemy,  then  in  a  position  of  his 
own  choosing.  The  incessant  cry  of  these  men,  in 


32  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

which  the  political  newspapers  of  the  day  joined, 
was  "  ON  TO  EICHMOND  !  ON  TO  RICHMOND  !  "  Mili 
tary  science  was  derided.  The  wise  policy,  and 
military  sagacity  of  General  Scott,  were  ridiculed, 
and  that  old  hero  and  true  patriot,  was  even  accused 
of  "being  "unwilling"  to  invade  his  native  State. 
Had  he  not  moved  on  the  enemy,  and  "  on  to  Rich 
mond,"  he  would  have  been  called  a  disloyal  man. 
The  pressure  was  too  great  to  be  resisted.  It  was 
resolved  that  the  army  should  move.  Accordingly, 
on  the  17th  day  of  July,  1861,  our  army  of  raw 
and  undisciplined  troops,  marched  forward  to  fight 
the  "politicians' battle;7'  while  they,  the  politicians, 
were  very  careful  to  keep  themselves  at  a  respectful 
distance  from  the  smell  of  powder. 

The  army,  about  forty  thousand  strong,  marched 
in  five  divisions.  The  first  division  was  command 
ed  by  General  Tyler,  of  the  Connecticut  militia ; 
the  second,  by  Colonel  Hunter ;  the  third,  by  Colo 
nel  Heintzelman,  of  the  regular  army ;  the  fourth, 
by  Colonel  Runyon ;  and  the  fifth,  by  Colonel  Miles. 
The  whole  army  was  commanded  by  Brigadier  Gen 
eral  Irwin  Me  Dowell.  Each  division  was  composed 
of  three  brigades.  Colonel  W.  T.  Sherman  com 
manded  the  third  brigade  of  the  first  division. 

The  march  of  this  great  army,  was  an  imposing 
scene ;  such  as  had  never  before  been  witnessed  by 
the  men  of  this  generation.  The  most  unbounded 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  06 

enthusiasm  prevailed  throughout  the  country.  But 
few  of  the  people  of  the  North  dreamed  of  defeat 
and  disaster.  Here,  and  there,  a  man  might  he 
found  who  believed  that  our  first  great  battle  would 
not  he  a  victory.  They  looked  at  the  war,  not  from 
a  human  stand-point,  or  in  the  light  of  man's  wis- 
&om, — but  in  the  light  of  God's  providence,  firmly 
believing  that  God,  who  governs  the  affairs  of  men, 
and  nations,  intended,  by  this  war,  to  establish  more 
firmly,  the  great  principles  which  lie  at  the  founda 
tion  of  our  beneficent  government,  and  secure  to 
every  man  who  puts  his  foot  upon  our  soil,  the  ines 
timable  boon  of  Freedom.  A  protracted  war 
seemed  necessary,  to  produce  this  grand  result. 

The  army  marched  on,  driving  back  the  enemy's 
pickets,  until  the  main  column  entered  Fairfax,  and 
encamped  for  the  night. 

General  McDowell  ordered  General  Tyler  to 
proceed  to  Centreville,  and  carefully  observe  all 
the  approaches  to  that  place.  On  the  18th,  without 
orders  from  General  McDowell,  Tyler  pushed  on  to 
Bull  Run,  at  Blackburn's  Ford,  and  commenced 
throwing  shells  at  the  enemy.  An  artillery  duel 
followed,  which  resulted  in  the  withdrawal  of  our 
batteries.  Great  fault  has  been  found  with  this 
movement,  as  it  might  have  resulted  in  bringing  on 
a  general  engagement  prematurely,  and  while  the 
army  was  on  the  march.  It,  however,  had  the  good 


34  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

effect  to  reveal  the  fact  that  the  enemy  were  too 
strong  on  their  right  wing,  to  make  the  attack  at 
that  point. 

On  the  evening  of  the  20th,  the  army  was  mostly 
at,  or  near,  Centreville.  The  enemy  was  at  Man- 
assas,  about  seven  miles  south-west  of  Centreville. 
The  road  from  Centreville  to  Maiiassas  Junction.,  is 
on  a  ridge,  which  runs  nearly  a  north  and  south 
course.  The  distance  from  Centreville  to  Bull  Run, 
along  this  road,  is  about  three  miles.  The  Warren- 
ton  turnpike  runs  nearly  east  and  west  over  this 
ridge,  and  through  the  village  of  Centreville,  and 
crosses  Bull  Run,  about  four  miles  distant  from  this 
point.  General  Tyler's  division  was  stationed  on 
the  north  side  of  "Warrenton  turnpike,  and  on  the 
eastern  slope  of  the  Centreville  ridge.  Two  bri 
gades  were  stationed  on  the  north  side  of  the  same 
road,  a  mile  and  a  half  in  advance,  to  the  west  of 
the  ridge,  and  one  brigade  on  the  road  from  Cen 
treville  to  Maiiassas,  where  it  crosses  Bull  Run,  at 
Blackburn's  Ford.  The  second  division,  command 
ed  by  Colonel  Hunter,  was  on  the  Warrenton  turn 
pike,  one  mile  east  of  Centreville.  The  third  divi 
sion,  commanded  by  Colonel  Ileintzelman,  was  on 
the  Old  Braddock  Road,  south-east  of  the  village 
about  a  mile  and  a  half.  The  fifth  division,  under 
Colonel  Miles,  was  on  this  same  road,  between  the 
position  of  the  third  division,  and  Centreville.  The 


AND    HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  35 

fourth  division,  commanded  by  Colonel  Runyon, 
was  placed  about  seven  miles  in  the  rear  of  Centre- 
ville,  for  the  purpose  of  guarding  our  communica 
tions  by  way  of  Vienna,  and  the  Orange  and  Alex 
andria  Railroad. 

General  McDowell  having  perfected  his  plans 
and  arrangements  to  commence  the  battle,  orders 
were  given  to  march.     The  movement  was  delayed 
two  hours  or  more,  owing  to  the  failure  of  the  first 
division  to  get  out  of  its  camp,  on  the  road.     This 
delay  had  no  little  influence  on  the  final  result  of 
the  battle.     About  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
July  21st,  the  divisions  commenced  moving.     It 
was  a  beautiful  and  bright  moonlight  night.     The 
stillness  that  brooded  over  the  grand  old  forests 
around,  was  unbroken,  except  by  the  muffled  tread 
of  soldiers,  and  the  rumbling  noise  of  artillery  car 
riages.     The  divisions,  separating  like  the  rays  of  a 
fan,  moved  away  to  the  parts  of  the  field  assigned 
to  them.     Colonel  Richardson,  with  his  brigade, 
moved  to  Blackburn's  Ford,  on  the  extreme  left, 
for  the  purpose  of  presenting  the  appearance  of  an 
attack  from  that  quarter,  and  guarding  against  a 
flank  movement  of  the   enemy,  if  it  should  be 
undertaken. 

General  Tyler  moved  with  Sherman's  and 
Schenck's  brigades,  and  Ayres'  and  Carlisle's  bat 
teries,  down  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  to  the  bridge, 


36 

on  Bull  Run,  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  that 
point,  and  presenting  the  appearance  of  an  attack 
on  the  front  and  centre  of  the  enemy  In  the 
meantime,  Hunter,  with  his  division,  was  moving 
to  a  ford,  which  was  unguarded,  about  ten  miles  up 
Bull  Run,  for  the  purpose  of  crossing  over  the 
stream,  and  making  a  sudden  attack  on  the  enemy, 
turning  his  left  wing,  and  driving  him  down  the 
stream,  which  runs  in  a  south-eastern  direction. 
He  was  closely  followed  by  the  division  of  Heint- 
zelman,  who  was  to  take  a  position  at  a  ford,  three 
miles  up  the  stream,  above  the  bridge.  The  road 
along  which  he  was  to  march  to  the  position 
assigned,  was  found  to  have  no  existence,  except 
upon  the  map.  He,  therefore,  followed  along  after 
Hunter's  division,  and  reached  the  ford  at  Dudley 
Springs,  at  eleven  o'clock,  just  as  the  last  brigade, 
of  Hunter's  division,  was  entering  the  water,  to 
cross  over  Bull  Run.  Just  at  this  time,  clouds  of 
dust,  from  the  direction  of  Manassas,  indicated 
the  immediate  approach  of  a  large  force.  The 
enemy,  by  some  means,  had  discovered  the  move 
ment  of  our  army.  From  high  points  of  observa 
tion  large  masses  of  troops  could  be  seen  moving 
rapidly  towards  the  threatened  point.  The  roar  of 
artillery  soon  announced  that  Hunter  was  engaged 
vith  the  enemy.  The  fire  began  with  artillery, 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  37 

and  was  followed  up  with  infantry.  The  lead 
ing  brigade,  commanded  by  the  gallant  Burn- 
side,  sustained  this  shock,  for  a  short  time,  with 
out  support,  and  did  it  well.  The  battalion  of 
regular  infantry  was  sent  to  sustain  it,  and  shortly 
afterwards  the  other  corps  of  Porter's  brigade,  and 
a  regiment  detached  from  Heintzelmaii's  division 
to  the  left,  forced  the  enemy  back.  Our  forces 
succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy  back  and  down 
the  stream,  to  a  point  nearly  opposite,  where  Tyler's 
forces  were  stationed,  and  where  the  first  gun  of 
the  battle  was  fired,  on  the  morning  of  that  event 
ful  day,  at  6  o'clock,  and  which  warned  the  enemy 
that  the  hour  of  conflict  was^at  hand.  As  soon  as 
it  was  discovered  that  Hunter  had  thus  driven  the 
enemy's  flank,  General  Tyler  sent  forward  and 
across  the  run,  the  right  wing  of  his  column,  com 
posed  of  Sherman's  and  Key's  brigades,  to  co-ope 
rate,  and  thus  a  grand  force  was  brought  to  bear 
most  effectually  against  the  enemy.  The  famous 
Irish  regiment  led  the  van,  followed  by  the  Seventy- 
ninth,  (Highlanders),  and  Thirteenth  New  York 
and  Second  Wisconsin. 

*  "It  was  a  brave  sight  indeed — that  rush  of  the 
Sixty-ninth  into  the  death  struggle !  With  such 
cheers  as  won  the  battles  on  the  Peninsula,  with  a 


Correspondent  of  the  N.  Y.  World 
D 


38 

quick  step  at  first,  and  then  a  double  quick,  and  at 
last  a  run,  they  dashed  forward  and  along  the  edge 
of  the  extended  forest.  Coats  and  knapsacks  were 
thrown  to  either  side,  that  nothing  might  impede 
their  work.  As  the  line  swept  along,  Meagher 
galloped  towards  the  head,  crying :  "  Come  on, 
boys  !  You've  got  your  chance  at  last !" 

It  was  now  noon,  and  the  battle  was  raging  with 
fierceness.  The  noise  of  the  cannonading  mingled 
with  the  sharp  quick  sound  of  musketry,  was  deafen 
ing.  It  was  heard  at  Fairfax,  Alexandria  and 
Washington  City. 

We  need  not  relate  what  followed,  or  remind 
the  reader  that  we  drove  the  enemy  before  us  until 
about  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  he  was  re- 
enforced  by  ten  thousand  fresh  troops,  from  Win 
chester,  under  command  of  Gen.  Johnston,  which 
Gen.  Patterson  failed  to  hold  in  check. 

We  need  not  speak  of  the  retreat,  the  rout,  and 
the  most  disgraceful  panic  that  followed.  But,  as 
we  have  given  a  brief  sketch  of  the  battle,  up  to 
the  time  Colonel  Sherman  entered  it,  we  will  now 
give  a  particular  account  of  the  part  taken  by  that 
distinguished  hero. 

Sherman's  brigade,  on  the  day  of  the  battle,  was 
composed  of  the  Thirteenth  New  York  regiment, 
Colonel  Quinby;  Sixty-ninth  New  York,  Colonel 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  39 

Corcoran ;  Seventy-ninth  Few  York,  Colonel  Came 
ron  ;  Second  Wisconsin,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Peck ; 
and  company  E  Third  Artillery,  under  command 
of  Captain  R.  B.  Ayres,  Fifth  Artillery. 

Sherman's  brigade  marched  with  the  column  of 
General  Tyler,  and  took  a  position  near  the  stone 
bridge  at  Bull  Run.  Here  the  brigade  was  de 
ployed  in  line  along  the  skirt  of  timber,  and 
remained  quietly  in  position,  until  after  10  o'clock 
A.  M.  The  enemy  had  remained  very  quiet,  but 
about  that  time  a  regiment  was  seen  leaving  its 
cover  in  front  of  Sherman's  forces,  and  moved  in 
double  quick  time,  on  the  road  towards  Sudley 
Springs,  which  was  evidence  that  the  column  of 
Colonels  Hunter  and  Heintzelman  was  approach 
ing.  About  the  same  time  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  was  seen  in  motion,  below  the  stone  bridge. 
Colonel  Sherman  directed  Captain  Ayres  to  take 
position  with  his  battery  near  our  right,  and  open 
fire  on  the  enemy.  The  smooth  bore  guns  did 
not  reach  the  position,  hence  the  fire  from  them 
ceased.  Sherman  then  sent  for  the  thirty-pounder 
rifled  gun,  attached  to  Capt.  Carlisle's  battery.  In 
the  mean  time,  the  Few  York  Sixty-ninth  was 
Shifted  to  the  extreme  right  of  the  brigade.  There 
this  force  remained  till  they  heard  the  musketry 
fire  across  Bull  Run.  The  firing  was  brisk,  and 
showed  that  Hunter  was  driving  before  him  the 


40  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

enemy,  till  about  noon,  when  it  became  certain  that 
he  had  come  to  a  stand,  and  that  our  force  on  the 
other  side  of  Bull  Run  was  all  engaged,  artillery 
and  infantry. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  Sherman  was  ordered 
to  cross  over  the  Run,  with  his  whole  brigade,  to 
assist  Hunter.  Early  in  the  day,  when  reconnoiter- 
ing  the  ground,  Sherman  saw  a  horseman  descend 
from  a  bluff  to  a  point,  across  the  stream,  and  show 
himself  in  the  open  field.  This  he  supposed  was 
designed  to  show  him  the  place  at  which  he  was 
expected  to  cross  over,  when  the  proper  time  should 
come.  He  sent  forward  a  company  as  skirmishers, 
and  followed  with  the  entire  brigade,  the  'New 
York  Sixty-ninth  leading  the  way.  They  found  no 
difficulty  in  crossing  over,  and  met  no  opposition 
in  ascending  the  steep  bluff  opposite,  with  the 
infantry,  but  it  was  impassable  to  the  artillery. 
Sherman  then  sent  word  to  Capt.  Ayres  to  follow 
if  possible,  otherwise  to  use  his  discretion.  The 
Captain  did  not  cross,  but  did  good  service  during 
the  day.  Sherman  then  advanced  slowly  and  con 
tinuously,  with  the  head  of  the  column,  to  give 
time  for  the  regiments,  in  succession,  to  close  up 
their  ranks.  They  first  encountered  a  party  of  the 
enemy,  retreating  along  a  cluster  of  pines.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Haggerty  of  the  Sixty-ninth  regi 
ment,  without  orders,  rode  over  and  endeavored  to 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  41 

intercept  their  retreat.  One  of  the  enemy,  in  full 
view  and  within  short  range,  shot  Haggerty,  and 
he  fell  dead  from  his  horse.  The  Sixty-ninth  opened 
fire  on  this  party,  which  was  returned.  But  Sher 
man,  was  determined  to  effect  a  junction  with  Hun 
ter's  division,  and  therefore,  ordered  this  fire  to 
cease.  This  force,  then  proceeded,  with  caution, 
toward  the  field,  and  soon  saw  our  forces  engaged. 
Colonel  Sherman  then  ordered  our  colors  to  be 
displayed  conspicuously,  at  the  head  of  his  column, 
for  the  purpose  of  attracting  the  attention  of  his 
friends — Hunter's  forces.  In  a  short  time  he  suc 
ceeded  in  forming  the  desired  junction,  and  formed 
his  brigade  in  rear  of  Colonel  Porter's.  Here  he 
learned  that  Colonel  Hunter  was  disabled  by  a 
severe  wound,  and  that  General  McDowell  was  on 
the  field.  Sherman  promptly  sought  him  out, 
and  received  his  orders  to  join  in  the  pursuit 
of  the  enemy,  who  were  falling  back  to  the  left  of 
the  road,  by  which  the  army  had  approached  from 
Sudley  Springs.  Placing  Col.  Quinby's  regiment 
of  rifles  in  front,  in  column  by  division,  he  directed 
the  other  regiments  to  follow  in  line  of  battle, 
in  the  order  of  the  Wisconsin  Second,  New  York 
Seventy-ninth,  and  New  York  Sixty-ninth. 

Quinby's  regiment  advanced  steadily  down  the 
hill  and  up  the  ridge,  from  which  he  opened  fire 
upon  the  enemy,  who  had  made  another  stand,  on 


42  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEKMAN, 

ground  very  favorable  to  him.  The  regiment  con 
tinued  advancing,  as  the  enemy  gave  way,  till  the 
head  of  the  column  reached  the  point  near  which 
Bickett's  battery  was  so  severely  cut  up.  The  other 
regiments  descended  the  hill  in  line  of  battle,  un 
der  a  severe  cannonading,  and  the  ground  affording 
comparative  shelter  against  the  enemy's  artillery, 
they  changed  directions  by  the  right  flank,  and  fol 
lowed  the  road  before  mentioned.  At  the  point 
where  this  road  crossed  the  bridge,  to  the  left,  the 
ground  was  swept  by  a  most  severe  fire  of  artillery, 
rille,  and  musketry,  and  Sherman's  brigade  saw  in 
succession,  several  regiments  driven  from  it,  among 
them  the  Zouaves,  and  a  battalion  of  marines. 
Before  reaching  the  crest  of  the  hill,  the  roadway 
was  worn  deep  enough  to  afford  shelter,  and  here 
Sherman  kept  his  regiments  as  long  as  possible; 
but,  when  the  Wisconsin  Second  was  abreast  the 
enemy,  by  order  of  Major  "Wadsworth,  of  General 
McDowell's  staff,  he  ordered  that  regiment  to  leave 
the  roadway  by  the  left  flank,  and  attack  the 
enemy.  This  regiment  ascended  to  the  brow  of 
the  hill  steadily,  received  the  severe  fire  of  the 
enemy,  returned  it  with  spirit,  and  advanced,  deli 
vering  its  fire.  It  was  uniformed  in  gray  cloth, 
almost  identical  with  that  of  the  greater  part  of 
the  secession  army,  and  when  it  fled  in  confusion, 
and  retreated  toward  the  roads,  there  was  a 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  43 

universal  cry  that  they  were  fired  upon  by  our  own 
men.     The  regiment  rallied  again,  passed  the  brow 
of  the  hill  a  second  time,  and  was  again  repulsed 
in  disorder.     By  this  time  the  Few  York  Seventy- 
ninth  had  closed  up,  and  in  like  manner  it  was 
ordered  to  cross  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  drive  the 
enemy  from  cover.      It  was   impossible   to  get  a 
good  view  of  the  ground.     One  battery  of  artillery 
poured    an    incessant  fire   upon    our    advancing 
column,  and  the  ground  was  irregular,  with  small 
clusters  of  pines,  affording  shelter,  of  which  the 
enemy  took  good  advantage.     The  fire  of  rifles  and 
musketry   was   very  severe.      The  Seventy-ninth, 
headed  by  Colonel  Cameron,  charged  across  the 
hill,  and  for  a  time  the  contest  was  doubtful.     They 
rallied  several  times  under  fire,  but  finally  broke 
and  gained  the  cover  of  the  hill.     This  left  the  field 
open  to  the  Few  York  Sixty-ninth,  the  regiment 
headed  by  Colonel  Corcoran.     He  led  his  regiment 
over   the  crest  of  the  hill,  and  had    a   full,  open 
view  of  the  ground  so   severely  contested.     We 
have  heretofore  described  the  manner  in  which  the 
regiment  went  into  the  fight.     The  roar  of  can 
non,  musketry,  and  rifles,  was  incessant.     It  was 
manifest,  the  enemy  was  here  in  great  force,  far 
superior  to  ours.    The  Sixty-ninth  held  the  ground 
for  some  time,  but  finally  fell  back,  in  disorder. 

Quinby's  regiment  occupied  another  ridge  to  the 
left   of  Sherman,  overlooking  the  same  field   of 


44  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

action,  and  were  engaged  with  the  enemy.  Here, 
about  3J  o'clock,  P.  M.,  began  the  scene  of  dis 
order  and  confusion  that  characterized  the  remain 
der  of  the  day.  Sherman's  forces  had  kept  their 
places,  and  seemed  perfectly  cool,  having  become 
accustomed  to  the  shot  and  shell  that  fell  compa 
ratively  harmless.  But  their  loss  had  been  very 
heavy.  The  intense  fire  of  small-arms,  at  close 
range,  had  killed  many,  wounded  more,  and  pro 
duced  disorder  in  all  the  battalions.  Colonel 
Cameron  had  been  mortally  wounded,  carried  to 
an  ambulance,  and  reported  dying.  Many  of  the 
officers  were  reported  dead  or  missing,  and  many 
of  the  wounded  were  making  their  way,  with  more 
or  less  assistance  to  the  hospitals.  On  the  ridge  to 
the  west,  Sherman  succeeded  in  partially  re-forming 
the  regiments,  but  it  was  manifest  they  would  not 
stand;  and.,  he  then  directed  Colonel  Corcoran  to 
move  along  the  ridge  to  the  rear,  near  the  position 
where  the  brigade  had  first  formed.  General 
McDowell  was  there  in  person,  and  used  all  pos 
sible  efforts  to  reassure  the  men.  By  the  active 
exertions  of  Colonel  Corcoran,  an  irregular  square 
was  formed  against  the  enemy's  cavalry,  which  was 
then  seen  issuing  from  the  position  from  which  our 
forces  had  been  driven.  At  once  the  retreat  com 
menced  toward  the  Ford  of  Bull  Run,  by  which 
they  had  approached  the  field  of  battle.  The  retreat 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  45 

was  disorderly ;  in  fact,  it  had  been  going  on  for  an 
hour  by  the  operations  of  the  men  themselves. 

After  putting  in  motion  the  irregular  square, 
Sherman  pushed  forward  to  find  Captain  Ayres' 
battery,  occupied  chiefly  at  the  point  where  Eick- 
ett's  battery  was  destroyed.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Haggerty  had  been  killed,  Colonel  Cameron  mor 
tally  wounded,  and  Colonel  Corcoran  missing,  after 
the  cavalry  charge  near  the  hospital  building. 
Sherman  was  left  to  do  as  best  he  could,  in  effect 
ing  the  safe  retreat  of  his  men. 

They  retreated  to  Centreville,  and  there  Sherman 
supposed  the  forces  would  rally,  and  make  a  stand. 
But,  about  9  o'clock  at  night,  he  received  from 
General  Tyler,  in  person,  the  order  to  continue  the 
retreat  to  the  Potomac.  The  retreat  was  by  night, 
and  disorderly  in  the  extreme.  The  men  of  dif- 
rent  regiments  mingled  together,  and  some  reached 
the  river  at  Arlington,  some  at  Long  Bridge,  and 
the  greater  part  returned  to  their  former  camps,  at 
or  near  Fort  Corcoran  and  a  few  made  no  halt, 
until  they  reached  New  York.  Sherman  arrived 
at  Fort  Corcoran,  the  day  after  the  battle,  about 
noon,  and  found  a  miscellaneous  crowd  crossing 
over  the  aqueduct  and  ferries.  He  promptly  com 
manded  the  guard  to  be  increased,  and  all  persons 
attempting  to  pass  over  to  be  stopped.  This  soon 
produced  the  desired  effect.  Men  sought  their 


46  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

proper  companies  and  regiments,  comparative  or 
der  was  restored,  and  all  were  posted  to  the  best 
advantage. 

Colonel  Sherman  expressed  himself  very  strongly 
and  indignantly  with  regard  to  the  disgraceful 
conduct  of  the  militia ;  especially  in  regard  to  some 
of  the  officers  in  his  command.  This  gave  rise  to 
many  disparaging  reports  concerning  the  skill  and 
character  of  Sherman,  as  a  commander.  But, 
whoever  will  read,  with  care,  the  foregoing  truth 
ful  account  of  the  part  taken  by  him  in  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  will  not  find  the  shadow  of 
a  reason  to  doubt  that  a  high  order  of  bravery  and 
military  skill  characterized  his  movements.  He 
will  see  nothing  in  his  conduct,  in  that  disastrous 
battle,  to  rob  him  of  the  laurels  which  have  since 
crowned  his  brow. 

After  the  disastrous  battle  of  Bull  Run,  the  army 
was  re-organized.  A  number  of  general  officers 
were  appointed  by  the  President,  and  confirmed 
by  the  Senate.  It  will  be  remembered  that  an 
extra  session  of  Congress  was  then  convened,  at 
"Washington.  Colonel  Sherman,  at  the  urgent 
request  of  the  Ohio  delegation,  was  appointed  a 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers.  His  name  was 
the  sixth  on  the  lineal  roll  of  Brigadier-Generals. 
At  that  time,  he  outranked  General  Grant.  His 
commission  was  dated  from  the  17th  of  May,  1861. 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  47 

Subsequent  events  have  proven  that  the  honorable 
title  of  brigadier  has  seldom,  if  ever,  been  con 
ferred  more  worthily. 

At  this  time,  General  Eobert  Anderson,  of  Fort 
Sumter  memory,  was  in  command  of  the  Depart 
ment  of  the  Cumberland — which  then  embraced 
the  States  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  His  head 
quarters  were  in  the  city  of  Louisville.  General 
Sherman,  a  few  days  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
was  appointed  second  in  command  to  General  An 
derson,  in  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland, 
with  head-quarters  in  the  field.  For  a  short  time 
these  officers  acted  together,  without  jealousy  or  a 
spirit  of  rivalry;  but  the  ill-health  of  General 
Anderson  soon  compelled  him  to  relinquish  all 
active  service,  and  on  the  8th  of  October,  1861, 
General  Sherman  became  chief  commander  of  this 
department. 

For  weeks  previous  to  this  time,  large  bodies  of 
rebel  soldiers  had  been  collected  in  Tennessee,  in 
camps  of  instruction,  on  the  very  borders  of  Ken 
tucky.  Suddenly,  and  while  Sherman  and  Ander 
son  were  in  command,  the  rebel  General  S.  B. 
Buckner,  at  the  head  of  a  large  army,  invaded  the 
State,  with  the  evident  intention  of  capturing  the 
city  of  Louisville,  and  driving  out  the  Union  troops. 
Sherman  had  but  two  fragmentary  regiments,  of 
about  seventeen  hundred  men,  and  a  volunteer 


48  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

force  of  about  one  thousand  Home  Guards,  to  meet, 
and  hold  in  check  Buckner's  army  of  at  least  eight 
or  ten  thousand.  This  he  did  most  successfully, 
until  his  little  army  was  reenforced.  It,  however, 
never  was  sufficiently  large  to  justify  him  in  mak 
ing  an  advance  upon  the  enemy.  When  his  force 
amounted  to  fifteen  thousand,  that  of  the  enemy 
amounted  to  nearly  fifty  thousand.  It  is  a  matter 
of  astonishment  to  all  who  know  the  true  situa 
tion  of  affairs  at  that  time,  that  his  little  army  was 
not  captured  or  driven  out  of  the  State.  Kentucky 
owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  Generals  Anderson 
and  Sherman,  and  to  the  brave  soldiers  enlisted 
and  commanded  by  Colonels  Rousseau  and  Pope, 
under  Sherman  as  their  general.  They  kept  the 
rebel  host  in  check,  saved  the  city  of  Louis 
ville,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  State,  until,  by  the 
fall  of  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson,  the  rebel  army 
was  driven  from  the  State. 

General  Sherman  sent  dispatch  after  dispatch  to 
the  War  Department,  and  to  General  McClellan, 
explaining  his  situation,  asserting  his  utter  inability 
to  defend  his  post  against  the  overwhelming  hosts 
of  the  enemy,  in  case  he  should  be  attacked,  and 
requesting  immediate  reinforcements.  Little  atten 
tion  was  paid  to  his  requests.  Sherman  became 
discouraged,  and  finally  asked  to  be  relieved  of  his 
command.  His  request  was  granted,  and  on  the 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  49 

10th  of  November,  1861,  Ms  department  was  con 
solidated  with,  that  of  Ohio. 

At  this  time,  General  Halleck  was  in  command 
of  the  Department  of  the  West.  General  Sherman 
was  ordered  to  report  to  him,  and  hy  him  was 
assigned  to  a  command  in  the  western  part  of  Mis 
souri,  with  head-quarters  at  Sedalia. 

Shortly  afterwards  he  was  transferred  to  Benton 
Barracks,  near  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  a  camp  of  instruction. 

We  next  hear  of  Sherman,  in  command  of  the 
base  of  operations  and  supplies  at  Paducah,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Tennessee  river;  from  which  place 
he  sent  supplies  and  reinforcements  to  General 
Grant,  when  he  was  engaged  in  capturing  Forts 
Henry  and  Donelson.  So  faithfully  did  Sherman 
discharge  the  duties  of  this  position,  that  General 
Grant  acknowledged  that  to  "  General  Sherman's 
promptness  he  was  largely  indebted  for  the  success 
of  his  operations."  Afterwards,  Sherman  was 
assigned,  by  the  request  of  General  Grant,  to  him 
as  a  division  commander.  We  shall  next  meet 
Sherman  on  the  bloody  field  of  Shiloh. 

INCIDENTS. 

On  one  occasion  Sherman  said  to  the  Adjutant 
General  of  the  United  States,  that  if  the  Govern 
ment  intended  to  open  the  Mississippi  River  to  its 
E 


50  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

mouth,  it  would  require  a  force  of  at  least  two 
hundred  thousand  men,  to  accomplish  the  work. 

This  revived  the  name  which  Sherman  had 
received  for  his  manly  attempt  to  restore  order 
among  the  Bull  Run  fugitives,  "  Crazy  Sherman,  " 
as  some  of  his  opponents  called  him.  Time  has 
proven  that  the  "  crazy  man "  was  right  in  his 
j  iidgment. 

"While  Sherman's  army  was  confronting  General 
Buckner's  forces,  south  of  Elizabethtown,  Ken 
tucky,  one  of  his  "brigadiers,  the  gallant  Rousseau, 
suddenly  approached  one  of  his  chaplains,  the  Rev. 
James  H.  Bristow,  a  true  and  nohle  man,  and  put 
his  hand  on  his  shoulder,  looked  him  square  in  the 
face,  and  without  turning  away  his  eagle  eyes, 
thus  addressed  him : 

"Chaplain,"  said  the  general,  "I  think  it  pos 
sible  that  we  may  have  a  battle  to-morrow,  and 
I  wish  to  ask  you  one  question.  Will  you  go  with 
me  into  battle  and  stand  by  my  side  until  I  fall,  or 
to  the  end  of  the  fight?" 

"  What  was  your  reply,  "  said  I  to  Mr.  Bristow. 

4  To  tell  you   the  truth,"  said  the  chaplain,  "  I 

thought  of  an  old  song,  which  I  used  to  sing,  and 

which  went   somewhat   after  this  fashion :     '  The 

spirit  is  willing,  but  the,  flesh  is  weak."'- 

This  man  has  since  proven  himself  to  be  one  of 
the  best  chaplains  in  the  army. 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  51 

While  Sherman  was  in  command  at  Benton  Bar 
racks,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  visiting  every  part  of 
the  barracks,  and  keeping  himself  familiar  with 
everything  that  was  going  on.  He  wore  an  old 
brown  coat  and  stove-pipe  hat,  and  was  not  gene 
rally  recognized  by  the  minor  officials  and  soldiers. 
One  day,  while  walking  through  the  grounds,  he 
met  with  a  soldier  who  was  beating  a  mule 
unmercifully. 

"  Stop  pounding  that  mule  !  "  Said  the  general. 

"  Git  eout !  "  said  the  soldier  in  blissful  ignorance 
of  the  person  to  whom  he  was  speaking. 

"  I  tell  you  stop  !"  reiterated  the  general. 

"You  mind  your  business,  and  I  will  mind 
mine,"  replied  the  soldier,  continuing  his  flank 
movements  upon  the  mule. 

"I 'toll  you  again,  to  stop!"  said  the  general. 
"Do  you  know  who  I  am?  I  am  General  Sher 
man.'' 

"  That's  played  out !"  said  the  soldier.  "  Every 
man  who  comes  along  here  with  an  old  brown 
coat  and  stove-pipe-hat  on,  claims  to  be  General 
Sherman." 

For  once,  at  least,  Sherman  was  compelled  to 
acknowledge  himself  outflanked. 


CHAPTER  III. 

GENERAL  SHERMAN  AND   THE   BATTLE   OF  PITTSBURG 
LANDING. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  PITTSBURG  LANDING  THE  MOST  DESPE 
RATE  AND  DECISIVE  OF  THE  WAR THE  TROOPS  EN 
GAGED  SKIRMISHING XBATTLE  OPENS SURPRISE 

OF     UNION     TROOPS SUNDAY'S     FIGHT THE     UNION 

TROOPS  DRIVEN  FROM  THEIR  CAMPS THE   LEXINGTON 

AND  TYLER THE  PART  TAKEN  BY  THEM LEW  WAL 
LACE'S  AND  BUELL'S  FORCES  ARRIVE  —  MONDAY'S  OPE 
RATIONS CAVALRY  CHARGE  BY  GRANT PURSUIT  BY 

SHERMAN  —  GRANT'S  OPINION  OF  SHERMAN  —  THE  PART 

TAKEN  BY  SHERMAN  AND  HIS  DIVISION EXTRACT 

FROM  HALLECK'S  REPORT  —  SHERMAN  A  MAJOR  GENE 
RAL THE  OPINIONS  OF  DISTINGUISHED  GENERALS 

INCIDENTS GEN.    SHERMAN'S    LETTER    TO    PROFESSOR 

COPPEE. 

The  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  or  Shiloh,  was 
one  of  the  most  desperate  conflicts  ever  known  in 
history,  and  the  most  severe  and  hardest  fought 
battle  of  the  rebellion,  as  well  as,  up  to  that  time, 
the  most  decisive  of  the  war.  With  overwhelming 
numbers  opposing  them,  and  surprised  as  they 
were  by  the  enemy,  it  was  only  by  the  bravest  and 
most  stubborn  fighting,  that  the  Union  troops  gained 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  53 

this  most  splendid  victory.  And,  although  the  tide 
seemed  turned  against  them  during  the  early  part 
of  the  battle,  everything  seemed  to  favor  them  on 
the  second  day ;  and,  after  two  days  fighting  they 
had  regained  all  they  had  lost,  and  driven  back  and 
conquered  the  rebels. 

The  troops  engaged  in  this  battle,  were  the  divi 
sions  of  Prentiss,  Sherman,  and  Me  demand,  who 
were  in  advance,  and  Hurlbut's  and  Smith's,  the 
latter,  under  command  of  General  W.  H.  L.  Wal 
lace.  Hurlbut's  and  "Wallace's  divisions  were  sta 
tioned  between  the  Tennessee  River  and  the  others. 
On  the  second  day,  these  were  joined  by  the  divi 
sions  of  Generals  Lewis  Wallace,  Nelson,  Critten- 
den,  and  McCook. 

On  the  evening  of  the  fourth  of  April,  the  enemy 
made  a  reconnoissance  with  two  of  their  regiments, 
and,  after  a  slight  skirmish,  retired,  as  their  forces 
under  Price  and  Yan  Dorn  had  not  yet  arrived. 
Although  the  generals  commanding  the  rebel  army 
had  fixed  upon  the  fifth  of  April  for  the  day  of 
attack,  they  resolved  to  wait  one  day  longer,  until 
their  reinforcements  should  arrive.  This  gave  Gen 
eral  Buell  time  to  reach  Grant,  and,  without  doubt, 
saved  the  country  from  a  terrible  disaster  which 
must  have  been  the  result,  had  his  reinforcements 
failed  to  arrive.  Johnston,  and  Beauregard  were 
aware  that  Buell  was  advancing  from  Nashville,  to 


54  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

join  Grant,  and  for  this  reason,  at  first  resolved  to 
attack  him  before  Buell  should  arrive. 

Just  at  break  of  day,  on  Sunday  morning,  the 
6th  of  April,  the  pickets  of  Prentiss  and  Sherman 
were  driven  in  by  the  enemy,  and  the  rebels  were 
almost  instantly  in  our  camp.  They  found  the 
troops  entirely  unprepared  for  anything  like  an 
attack.  The  officers  and  men  were  scattered  about, 
some  still  in  their  beds,  some  dressing,  and  some 
eating  their  breakfast, — and  none  in  readiness  for 
their  early  and  unexpected  visitors. 

The  five  divisions  stationed  at  this  point,  were 
hurriedly  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  and,  without  a 
moment's  preparation,  met  the  enemy.  Many  of 
the  regiments  were  new  troops,  their  officers  in 
experienced,  and  many  of  them  became  panic- 
stricken.  General  Prentiss,  and  the  greater  part 
of  his  division,  were  at  this  time,  taken  prisoners. 
Sherman  used  all  his  energies  to  rally  his  men. 
Hiding  along  the  lines,  encouraging  them,  and  ex 
posing  his  own  life,  he  did  much  to  save  the  division 
from  utter  destruction.  Although  our  forces  re 
turned  their  fire  most  vigorously,  our  men  were 
driven  back  from  their  camp.  The  enemy  bringing 
up  a  fresh  force,  opened  fire  upon  our  left  wing, 
under  General  McClernand.  Along  the  whole 
line,  for  a  distance  of  over  four  miles,  this  fire  was 
returned  with  terrible  effect,  by  both  infantry  and 
artillery. 


AND    HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  55 

General  Iluiibut's  division  was  then  brought 
forward,  and  a  most  desperate  conflict  ensued. 
The  rebels  were  first  driven  back,  with  great  loss  of 
life,  but  rallied,  and  in  turn,  drove  our  men  back. 

The  rebel  forces,  commanded  by  able  generals, 
were  handled  with  a  skill  that  drew  admiration 
from  all,  and  although  repulsed,  again  and  again, 
they  continued  sending  fresh  troops  to  the  front, 
and  again  bent  their  energies  to  the  work. 

Late  in  the  afternoon,  the  most  desperate  fighting 
that  had  occurred  during  the  entire  day,  took  place. 
The  rebels  undoubtedly  thought  that  if  they  failed 
in  defeating  us  on  that  day,  that  their  chances  for 
success  would  be  doubtful,  as  a  part  of  General 
BuelFs  army  had  arrived  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river.  The  rebels  could  see  the  reinforcements 
from  the  river  bank,  and  to  this  place  they  directed 
their  attention.  The  Union  troops  were,  indeed, 
contending  against  fearful  odds,  their  army  num 
bering  about  thirty-eight  thousand  men,  while  that 
of  the  rebels  exceeded  sixty  thousand. 

Many  of  the  panic-stricken,  and  the  skulkers, 
were  gathered  near  the  river,  and  no  appeals  from 
their  officers  could  rally  them.  • 

General  Lewis  Wallace's  division,  which  was  at 
Crump's  Landing,  was  ordered  up  in  the  morning, 
but  being  led  by  a  circuitous  route,  failed  to  reach 
the  scene  of  action  until  night. 


56  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

About  five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  rebels  occupied 
about  two-thirds  of  the  Union  camps,  and  were 
constantly  driving  them  towards  the  river.  Toward 
evening,  the  gunboats  Lexington  and  Taylor,  which 
had  lain  idle  spectators  during  the  day's  fearful 
contest,  seeking  in  vain  for  an  opportunity  to  bring 
their  guns  to  bear  upon  the  enemy,  commenced 
raining  shells  upon  the  rebel  hordes.  The  boats 
fired  rapidly,  and  well ;  and  with  the  incessant  clash 
of  guns,  on  land,  and  the  crash  and  roar  of  shells 
from  the  boats,  that  Sabbath  evening  wore  away. 

The  men  lay  on  their  arms  during  the  night,  in 
line  of  battle.  Buell  and  Lew.  Wallace  would  be 
there,  and  ready  to  assist  them  in  the  morning,  for 
all  through  the  night,  Buell's  men  were  marching 
up  from  Savannah,  and  were  being  ferried  across, 
or  were  coming  upon  transports ;  and  Wallace's 
division  had  arrived  in  the  evening,  and  would  be 
in  readiness  ere  the  morning  dawned.  A  heavy 
thunder  storm  came  up  about  midnight,  drenching 
the  two  armies,  but  proving  a  most  excellent  dress 
ing  for  the  wounds  of  the  many  who  were  suffering 
on  that  bloody  field. 

At  daylight,  on  the  morning  of  the  seventh  of 
April,  the  two  divisions  of  Nelson  and  Crittenden, 
advanced  upon  the  enemy.  Lew.  Wallace's  divi 
sion  commenced  the  battle  by  an  artillery  fire  upon 
a  battery  of  the  enemy,  causing  them  to  retreat. 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  57 

Nelson's  troops  were  in  the  advance,  and  the  fight 
ing  was  most  desperate,  continually  driving  back 
the  rebels.  The  fire  soon  became  general  along  the 
whole  line, — Crittenden  following  close  to  Nelson, 
and  next  to  him,  Me  Cook.  Generals  Sherman's, 
McClernand's  and  Hurlbut's  men,  although,  terribly 
jaded  from  the  previous  day's  fighting,  came  up, 
and  gallantly  added  new  laurels  to  those  already 
won. 

But  the  rebels  resisted  at  every  point ;  they  felt 
that  all  depended  upon  a  most  desperate  effort  on 
their  part,  and  their  generals  urged  them  on,  think 
ing  to  flank  us  on  the  right,  and  thus  gain  the  day. 
Success  seemed  theirs  for  a  time,  but  our  left,  under 
Nelson,  was  dividing  them,  and  by  eleven  o  clock, 
General  Buell's  forces  had  succeeded  in  flanking 
them,  and  capturing  their  batteries.      The  rebels 
again  rallied,  but  some  regiments   from  "Wood's 
and  Thomas'  coming  in  just  then,  were  sent  to  Gen 
eral  Buell,   who   again    drove    the   enemy  back. 
About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  General  Grant, 
at  the  head  of  five  regiments  of  cavalry,  ordered  a 
charge  across  the  field,  himself  commanding.     The 
men  followed   with  a  shout,  and  the  rebels  fled  in 
dismay,  and   did  not  make  another  stand.      The 
retreating  rebels  were  followed  by  Buell,  and  by 
half-past  five,   their  whole   army  was   retreating 
towards  Corinth. 


58  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

The  main  army,  well  nigh  worn  out  with  hard 
fighting,  gladly  welcomed  the  close  of  this  victori 
ous  day.  On  the  following  morning,  General  Sher 
man  started  forward  with  the  remainder  of  his 
division,  in  pursuit.  He  met  the  enemy's  cavalry 
on  the  road  to  Corinth,  where  a  sharp  skirmish 
ensued,  and  he  drove  them  from  the  field  with  the 
loss  of  several  killed  and  wounded. 

General  Grant,  in  his  official  report  of  the  battle 
of  Pittsburg  Landing,  says :     "  I  feel  it  a  duty  to 
a  gallant  and  able  officer,  Brigadier  General  W. 
T.  Sherman,  to  make  special  mention.     He  not 
only  was  with  his  command  during  the  entire  two 
days  of  the  action,  but  displayed  great  judgment 
and  skill  in  the  management  of  his  men  ;  although 
severely  wounded  in  the  hand,  on  the  first  day,  his 
place  was  never  vacant.     He  was  again  wounded, 
and  had  three  horses  killed  under  him.     General 
Prentiss  was  taken  prisoner  on  the  first  day's  battle, 
and  Gen.  W.H.  L.Wallace  was  mortally  wounded." 
From  General  Sherman's  report  we  learn,  that 
on  Friday,    the  4th  instant,  the   enemy's  cavalry 
drove  in  his  pickets,  posted  about  a  mile  and  a-half 
in  advance  of  his  centre,  on  the  main  Corinth  road, 
capturing  one  lieutenant,  and  seven  men ;  that  he 
ordered  a  pursuit  by  the  cavalry  of  his  division, 
driving  them  back  about  five  miles,  arid  killing 
many.      On   Saturday,   the    enemy's   cavalry  was 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  59 

again  very  bold,  coming  well  down  to  their  front, 
yet  it  was  thought  that  he  designed  nothing  but  a 
strong  demonstration.  On  Sunday  morning,  early, 
the  6th  instant,  the  enemy  drove  our  advance  guard 
back  on  the  main  body,  when  General  Sherman 
ordered  under  arms,  all  his  division,  and  sent  word 
to  General  Me  demand,  asking  him  to  support  his 
left;  to  General  Prentiss,  giving  him  notice  that 
tlie  enemy  was  in  our  front,  in  force,  and  to  General 
Hurlbut,  asking  him  to  support  General  Prentiss. 
At  this  time,  seven  A.  M.,  Sherman's  division  was 
arranged  as  follows : 

First  Brigade,  composed  of  the  Sixth  Iowa,  Colo 
nel  J.  A.  McDowell;  Fortieth  Illinois,  Colonel 
Hicks ;  Forty-sixth  Ohio,  Colonel  Worthington  ; 
and  the  Norton  Battery,  Captain  Behr,  on  the 
extreme  left,  guarding  the  bridge  on  the  Purdy 
Road,  over  Owl  Creek. 

Second  Brigade,  composed  of  the  Fifty-fifth  Illi 
nois,  Colonel  D.  Stuart;  Fifty-fourth  Ohio,  Colo 
nel  T.  Kilby  Smith;  and  the  Seventy-first  Ohio, 
Colonel  Mason,  on  the  extreme  left,  guarding  the 
ford  over  Lick  Creek. 

Third  Brigade,  composed  of  the  Seventy-seventh 
Ohio,  Colonel  Hildebrand;  Fifty-third  Ohio,  Colo 
nel  Appier ;  and  the  Fifty-seventh  Ohio,  Colonel 
Mungen,  on  the  left  of  the  Corinth  Road,  its  right 
resting  on  Shi!  oh  meeting-house. 


60  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Fourth  Brigade,  composed  of  the  Seventy-second 
Ohio,  Colonel  Buckland;  Forty-eighth  Ohio,  Colo 
nel  Sullivan;  and  the  Seventeenth  Ohio,  Colonel 
Cockerill,  on  the  right  of  the  Corinth  Road,  its 
left  resting  on  Shiloh  meeting-house. 

Two  batteries  of  artillery,  Taylor's  and  Water- 
house's,  were  posted,  the  former  at  Shiloh,  and  the 
latter  on  a  ridge  to  the  left,  with  a  front  fire  over 
open  ground  between  Mungen's  and  Appier's  regi 
ments.  The  cavalry,  eight  companies  of  the  Fourth 
Illinois,  under  Colonel  Dickey,  were  posted  in  a 
large  open  field  to  the  left  and  rear  of  Shiloh 
meeting-house,  which  Sherman  regarded  as  the 
centre  of  his  position.  Shortly  after  seven  A.  M., 
with  his  entire  staff,  Sherman  rode  along  a  portion 
of  our  front,  and  when  in  the  open  field  before 
Appier's  regiment,  the  enemy's  pickets  opened  a 
brisk  fire  on  bis  party,  killing  his  orderly,  Thomas 
D.  Hollister,  of  Company  H,  Second  Illinois  Cav 
alry.  The  fire  came  from  the  bushes  which  line  a 
small  stream  that  rose  in  the  field  in  front  of 
Appier's  camp,  and  flows  to  the  north  along  the 
whole  front  of  the  place  where  this  division  was 
located.  This  valley  afforded  the  enemy  cover, 
but  our  men  were  so  posted  as  to  have  a  good  fire 
at  him  as  he  crossed  the  valley  and  ascended  the 
rising  ground  on  our  side. 

About  eight  A.  M.  the  glistening  bayonets  of 
heavy  masses  of  rebel  infantry  could  be  seen  to  our 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  61 

left  front,  in  the  woods  beyond  the  small  stream 
alluded  to,  and  Sherman  became  satisfied  for  the 
first  time  that  the  enemy  designed  a  determined 
attack  on  our  whole  camp.  All  the  regiments  in 
his  division  were  then  in  line  of  battle,  at  their 
proper  posts.  Sherman  rode  to  Colonel  Appier, 
and  ordered  him  to  hold  his  ground  at  all  hazards, 
as  he  held  the  left  flank  of  our  first  line  of  battle, 
and  he  had  a  good  battery  on  his  right  and  strong 
support  in  his  rear.  G-eneral  McClernand  had 
promptly  and  energetically  responded  to  Sherman's 
request,  and  had  sent  him  three  regiments,  which 
were  posted  to  protect  Waterhouse's  battery  and 
the  left  flank  of  Sherman's  line.  The  battle  began 
by  the  enemy  opening  a  battery  in  the  woods  to 
our  front,  and  throwing  shell  into  our  camp. 

Taylor's  and  "Waterhouse's  batteries  promptly 
responded,  and  the  heavy  battalions  of  infantry 
could  be  seen  passing  obliquely  to  the  left  across 
the  open  field  in  Appier's  front ;  also  other  columns 
advancing  directly  upon  Sherman's  division.  The 
Union  infantry  and  artillery  opened  fire  along  the 
whole  line,  and  the  battle  became  general.  Other 
heavy  masses  of  the  enemy's  forces  kept  passing 
across  the  field  to  their  left,  and  directing  their 
course  on  General  Prentiss.  Sherman  saw  at  once 
that  the  enemy  designed  to  pass  his  left  flank,  and 
fall  upon  Generals  McClernand  and  Prentiss,  whose 


62 

line  of  camps  was  almost  parallel  with  the  Tennes 
see  River,  and  about  two  miles  back  from  it.  Very 
soon  the  sound  of  musketry  and  artillery  announced 
that  General  Prentiss  was  engaged,  and  about  nine 
A.  M.  he  began  to  fall  back.  About  this  time 
Appier's  regiment  broke  in  disorder;  Mungen's 
regiment  followed,  and  the  enemy  pressed  forward 
on  "Waterhouse's  battery,  thereby  exposed.  The 
three  Illinois  regiments  in  immediate  support  of 
this  battery,  stood  for  some  time,  but  the  enemy's 
advance  was  vigorous,  and  the  fire  so  severe,  that 
when  Colonel  Raith,  of  the  Forty-third  Illinois, 
received  a  severe  wound,  and  fell  from  his  horse, 
his  regiment  and  the  others  manifested  disorder, 
and  the  enemy  got  possession  of  three  guns  of  this 
(AYaterhouse's)  battery.  Although  our  left  was 
thus  turned,  and  the  enemy  was  pressing  our  whole 
line,  Sherman  deemed  Shiloh  so  important,  that  he 
remained  by  it,  and  renewed  his  orders  to  Colonels 
McDowell  and  Buckland  to  hold  their  ground ;  and 
these  positions  were  held  until  ten  o'clock  A.  M., 
when  the  enemy  had  got  his  artillery  to  the  rear  of 
our  left  flank,  and  some  change  became  absolutely 
necessary.  Two  regiments  of  Hildebrand's  brigade 
(Appier's  and  Mungen's)  had  already  disappeared 
to  the  rear,  and  Hildebrand's  own  regiment  was  in 
disorder.  Sherman,  therefore,  gave  orders  for 
Taylor's  battery,  still  at  Shiloh,  to  fall  back  as  far 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  63 

as  the  Purdy  and  Hamburg  Road,  and  for  McDow 
ell  and  Buckland  to  adopt  that  road  as  their  new 
line.  Pie  rode  across  the  angle  and  met  Behr's 
battery  at  the  cross  roads,  and  ordered  it  imme 
diately  to  come  into  battery,  action  right.  Captain 
Behr  gave  the  order,  but  was  almost  instantly  shot 
from  his  horse,  when  drivers  and  gunners  fled  in 
dismay,  carrying  off  the  caissons,  and  abandoning 
five  out  of  six  guns  without  firing  a  shot.  The 
enemy  pressed  on,  gaining  this  battery,  and  the 
Union  troops  were  again  forced  to  choose  a  line  of 
defense.  Hildebrand's  brigade  had  substantially 
disappeared  from  the  field,  though  he  himself 
bravely  remained.  McDowell's  and  Buckland's 
brigades  maintained  their  organization,  and  were 
conducted  by  Sherman's  aids  so  as  to  join  on 
McClernand's  right,  thus  abandoning  the  original 
camps  and  line  of  Sherman. 

This  was  about  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  at  which 
time  the  enemy  made  a  furious  attack  on  General 
McClernand's  whole  front.  He  struggled  most 
desperately,  but  finding  him  pressed,  McDowell's 
brigade  was  moved  directly  against  the  left  flank 
of  the  enemy,  forcing  him  back  some  distance,  and 
the  men  were  directed  to  avail  themselves  of  every 
cover — trees,  fallen  timber,  and  a  wooded  valley  to 
our  right.  This  position  they  held  for  four  long 
hours,  sometimes  gaining  and  at  other  times  losing 


64  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

ground,  Generals  McClernand  and  Sherman  acting 
in  perfect  concert  and  struggling  to  maintain  this 
line.  While  they  were  so  hard  pressed  two  Iowa 
regiments  approached  from  the  rear,  but  could  not 
be  brought  up  to  the  severe  fire  that  was  raging  in 
our  front.  At  four  P.  M.  it  was  evident  that  Hurl- 
but' s  line  had  been  driven  back  to  the  river,  and 
knowing  that  General  Wallace  was  coming  with 
reinforcements  from  Crump's  Landing,  Sherman 
and  McClernand,  on  consultation,  selected  a  new 
line  of  defense,  with  its  right  wing  covering  a 
bridge  by  which  General  Wallace  had  to  approach. 

The  Union  troops  fell  back  as  well  as  they  could, 
gathering,  in  addition  to  their  own,  such  scattered 
forces  as  they  could  find,  and  formed  the  new  line. 
During  this  change  the  enemy  charged  them,  but 
were  handsomely  repulsed  by  an  Illinois  regiment. 

The  Fifth  Ohio  cavalry,  which  had  come  up,  ren 
dered  good  service  in  holding  the  enemy  in  check 
for  some  time,  and  Major  Taylor  also  came  up  with 
a  new  battery,  and  got  into  position  just  in  time  to 
get  a  good  flank  fire  upon  the  enemy's  column  as 
he  pressed  on  General  McClernand's  right,  check 
ing  his  advance,  when  General  McClernand's  divi 
sion  made  a  fine  charge  on  the  enemy,  and  drove 
him  back  into  the  ravines  to  our  front  and  right. 
Sherman  had  a  clear  field  about  two  hundred  yards 
wide  in  his  immediate  front,  and  contented  himself 


AND    HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  65 

with  keeping  the  enemy's  infantry  at  that  distance 
during  the  day.  In  this  position  his  army  rested 
for  the  night.  His  command  had  become  decidedly 
of  a  mixed  character.  Buckland's  brigade  was  the 
only  one  that  retained  organization.  Colonel  Ilil- 
debrand  was  personally  there,  but  his  brigade  was 
not.  Colonel  McDowell  had  been  severely  injured 
by  a  fall  from  his  horse,  and  had  gone  to  the  river, 
and  the  three  regiments  of  his  brigade  were  not  in 
line. 

The  Thirteenth  Missouri,  Colonel  Crafts  J. 
Wright,  had  reported  to  Sherman  on  the  field,  and 
fought  well,  retaining  its  regimental  organization, 
and  formed  a  part  of  his  line  during  Sunday  night 
and  all  day  Monday.  Other  fragments  of  regi 
ments  and  companies  had  also  fallen  into  his  divi 
sion,  and  acted  with  it  during  the  remainder  of  the 
battle. 

Generals  Grant  and  Buell  visited  Sherman  in  his 
bivouac  that  evening,  and  from  them  he  learned 
the  situation  in  the  other  parts  of  the  field.  Gen 
eral  Wallace  arrived  from  Crump's  Landing  shortly 
after  dark,  and  formed  his  line  to  the  right  and  rear 
of  Sherman.  It  rained  hard  during  the  night,  but 
our  men  were  in  good  spirits,  and  lay  on  their 
arms,  being  satisfied  with  such  bread  and  meat  as 
could  be  gathered  at  the  neighboring  camps,  and 


66  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

determined  to  redeem   on  Monday  the  losses  of 
Sunday. 

At  daybreak  of  Monday  Sherman  received  Gen 
eral  Grant's  orders  to  advance  and  recapture  their 
original  camps.  He  dispatched  several  members 
of  his  staff  to  bring  up  all  the  men  they  could  find, 
and  especially  the  brigade  of  Colonel  Stuart,  which 
had  been  separated  from  the  division  the  day 
before ;  and  at  the  appointed  time  the  division,  or 
what  remained  of  it,  with  the  Thirteenth  Missouri 
and  other  fragments  of  regiments,' moved  forward, 
and  occupied  the  ground  on  the  extreme  right  of 
General  McClernand's  camp,  where  they  attracted 
the  fire  of  a  rebel  battery  near  Colonel  McDowell's 
former  headquarters.  Here  Sherman  remained 
awaiting  for  the  sound  of  General  Buell's  advance 
upon  the  main  Corinth  Road.  About  10  o'clock 
A.  M.  the  firing  in  this  direction,  and  its  steady 
approach,  satisfied  him  ;  and  General  Wallace  be 
ing  on  his  right,  flanked  with  his  well-conducted 
division,  Sherman  led  the  head  of  his  column  to 
General  McClernand's  right,  formed  in  line  of 
battle  facing  south,  with  Buckland's  brigade 
directly  across  the  ridge,  and  Stuart's  brigade  on 
its  right,  in  the  woods,  and  thus  advanced  steadily 
ami  slowly,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  and 
artillery.  Taylor  had  just  come  up  from  the  rear, 
where  he  had  gone  for  ammunition,  and  brought 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  67 

up  three  guns,  which  Sherman  ordered  into  posi 
tion  to  advance  by  hand-firing.  These  guns  be 
longed  to  Company  A,  Chicago  Light  Artillery, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  P.  P.  "Wood,  and  did 
most  excellent  service.  Under  cover  of  their  fire, 
the  troops  advanced  until  they  reached  the  point 
where  the  Corinth  Road  crosses  the  line  of  General 
McClernand's  camp ;  and  here  was  seen  the  well- 
ordered  and  compact  Kentucky  forces  of  General 
Buell,  whose  soldierly  movement  alone  gave  confi 
dence  to  our  new  and  less  disciplined  forces, 
Willich's  regiment  advancing  upon  a  point  of 
water  oaks  and  thicket,  behind  which  the  enemy 
was  in  great  strength,  and  entered  it  in 
beautiful  style.  Then  arose  some  of  the  most 
severe  musketry  firing  ever  heard,  lasting  twenty 
minutes,  when  this  splendid  regiment  had  to  fall 
back.  This  green  point  of  timber  is  about  five 
hundred  yards  east  of  Shiloh  meeting-house,  and 
it  was  evident  that  there  was  to  be  the  struggle. 
The  enemy  could  also  be  seen  forming  his  line  to 
the  south.  General  McClernand  sending  to  Sher 
man  for  artillery,  he  detached  to  him  the  three 
guns  of  "Wood's  battery,  with  which  he  speedily 
drove  them  back ;  and  seeing  some  others  in  the 
rear,  Sherman  sent  one  of  his  staff  to  bring  them 
forward,  when,  by  almost  Providential  decree,  they 
proved  to  be  two  twenty-four  pounder  Howitzers, 


68  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEKMAN, 

belonging   to    McAllister's   battery,    and    served 
as    well    as    guns     ever    could    be.      This    was 
about  two  P.   M.     The   enemy  had  one  battery 
close  by  Shiloh,  and  another  'near  the  Hamburg 
Road,  both  pouring  grape  and  cannister  upon  any 
column  of  troops  that  advanced  upon  the  green 
point  of  water-oaks.    Willich's  regiment  had  been 
repulsed ;  but  a  whole  brigade  of  McCook's  divi 
sion  advanced,  beautifully  deployed,  and  entered 
this  dreaded  wood.     Sherman  ordered  his  Second 
brigade,  then  commanded  by  Colonel  Kilby  Smith 
(Colonel  Stuart  being  wounded,)  to  form  on  its 
right,  and  his  Fourth  brigade,  Colonel  Buckland, 
on  its  right — all  to  advance   with  the  Kentucky 
brigade    before    mentioned    (Rousseau's   brigade 
of  McCook's  division).     He  gave  personal  direc 
tion  to  the  twenty-four  pounder  guns,  whose  well- 
directed  fire  silenced  the  enemy's  guns  to  the  left. 
and  afterwards  at  the  Shiloh  meeting-house.    Rous 
seau's  brigade  moved  in  splendid  order  steadily  to 
the  front,  sweeping  everything  before  it,  and  at  four 
P.  M.  the  Union  troops  stood  upon  the  ground  of 
their  original  front  line,  and  the  enemy  was  in  full 
retreat.     Sherman  directed  his  several  brigades  to 
resume  at  once  their  original  camp. 

General  McCook's  splendid  division  from  Ken 
tucky  drove  back  the  enemy  along  the  Corinth 
Road,  which  was  the  great  centre  of  the  field  of 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  69 

battle,  and  where  Beauregard  commanded  in  per 
son,  supported  by  'Bragg's,  Folk's  and  Breck- 
inridge's  divisions.  Johnston  was  killed  by  expo 
sing  himself  in  front  of  his  troops  at  the  time 
of  their  attack  on  Buckland's  brigade  on  Sunday 
morning. 

Sherman's  division  was  made  up  of  regiments 
perfectly  new,  all  having  received  their  muskets  for 
the  first  time  at  Paducah.  None  of  them  had  ever 
been  under  fire,  and  to  expect  the  coolness  and 
steadiness  of  older  troops  would  be  wrong.  They 
knew  not  the  value  of  combination  and  organiza 
tion.  "When  individual  fear  seized  them,  the  first 
impulse  was  to  get  away.  His  third  brigade 
broke  much  sooner  than  it  should  have  done. 
Colonel  Hildebrand,  its  commander,  was  as  cool  as 
man  could  be,  and  no  one  could  have  made  stronger 
efforts  to  hold  his  men  to  their  places  than  he  did. 
He  kept  his  own  regiment,  with  individual  excep 
tions,  in  hand  an  hour  after  Appier's  and  Mungen's 
regiments  had  left  their  proper  field  of  action.  Colo 
nel  Buckland  managed  his  brigade  well.  General 
Sherman  commended  him  to  General  Grant  as  a 
cool,  intelligent  and  judicious  man,  who  needed 
only  confidence  and  experience  to  make  a  good 
commander.  His  subordinates,  Colonels  Sullivan 
and  Cockerill,  behaved  with  great  gallantry,  the 
former  receiving  a  severe  wound  on  Sunday,  and 


TO  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

yet  commanding  and  holding  his  regiment  well  in 
hand  all  day,  and  on  Monday,  until  his  right  arm 
was  broken  by  a  shot.  Cockerill  held  a  largei 
proportion  of  his  men  than  any  colonel  in  Sher 
man's  division,  and  was  with  him  from  first  to  last. 
Colonel  J.  H.  McDowell,  commanding  the  First 
brigade,  held  his  ground  on  Sunday  until  ordered 
to  fall  back,  which  he  did  in  line  of  battle,  and 
when  ordered  he  conducted  the  attack  on  the  ene 
my's  left  in  good  style.  In  falling  back  to  the  next 
position  he  was  thrown  from  his  horse  and  injured, 
and  his  brigade  was  not  in  position  on  Monday 
morning.  His  subordinates,  Colonels  Hicks  and 
Worthington,  displayed  great  personal  courage. 
Colonel  Hicks  led  his  regiment  in  the  attack  on 
Sunday,  and  received  a  severe  wound.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Walcutt,  of  the  Ohio  Forty-sixth,  was 
severely  wounded  on  Sunday.  Sherman's  Second 
brigade,  Colonel  Stuart,  was  detached  nearly  two 
miles  from  headquarters.  He  had  to  fight  his  own 
battle  on  Sunday  against  superior  numbers,  as  the 
enemy  interposed  between  him  and  General  Pren- 
tiss  early  in  the  day.  Colonel  Stuart  was  wounded 
severely,  and  yet  reported  for  duty  on  Monday 
morning.  He  was  compelled  to  leave  during  the 
day,  when  the  command  devolved  on  Colonel 
Kilby  Smith,  who  was  always  in  the  thickest 
of  the  fight,  and  led  the  brigade  handsomely. 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  71 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Kyle,  of  the  Seventy-first,  was 
mortally  wounded  on  Sunday. 

Several  times  during  the  battle  cartridges  gave 
out,  but  General  Grant  had  thoughtfully  kept  a 
supply  coming  from  the  rear.  General  Sherman 
commended  the  Fortieth  Illinois  and  Thirteenth 
Missouri  for  steadfastly  holding  their  ground  under 
heavy  fire,  although  their  cartridge-boxes  were 
empty.  The  following  is  the  number  of  killed, 
wounded  and  missing  in  Sherman's  division: 


/  — 

c 

Sixth  Iowa  

-KILL 

)ff's. 
2 
1 
2 
1 
2 
1 
1 
2 

ED  —  xr- 

Men. 
49 
42 
32 
45 
22 
12 
48 
7 
7 
13 
13 
9 

•WOUNDED  —  x;  —  MISSING  —  x 

Off'  s.  Men.   Off's.  Men. 
3       117         ...         39 
7       148         ...           2 
3       147         ...         52 
8       183         ...         41 
5       128         ...         32 
52          1         45 
7       107          3         53 
82         ...         33 
39         ...           5 
5        85         ...         49 
3        70          1        45 
1         53           1         39 

Fortieth  Illinois 

Forty-sixth  Ohio 

Fifty-fifth  Illinois,  

Fifty-fourth  Ohio,  

Seventy-first  Ohio,  

Seventy-seventh  Ohio,  
Fifty-seventh  Ohio,  

Fifty-third  Ohio 

Seventy-second  Ohio,  

2 
1 

Seventieth  Ohio,  

Behr's  Battery 

1 

Barrett's  Battery 

1 
1 
1 

3 

5 
14 

... 

... 

Waterhouse's  Battery,  

Orderly  Holliday,  

16     302        45     1230          6      435 


BECAPITULATION. 

OFFICERS— Killed, 16 

Wounded, 45 

Missing, 6 

SOLDIERS — Killed, 302 

Wounded, 1230 

Missing, 435 

Aggregate  loss  in  the  Division, 2034 

The  enemy  captured  seven  guns  belonging  to 
Sherman's  division  on  Sunday,  but  on  Monday  the 
division  recovered  seven,  not  the  identical  guns 
lost,  but  enough  in  number  to  balance  the  account. 

At  the  time  of  recovering  their  camps,  the  men 
were  so  fatigued,  that  they  could  not  follow  the 
retreating  masses  of  the  enemy ;  but  on  the  next 
day,  Sherman  followed  them  up  for  six  miles. 

Captain  Hannon,  chief  of  staff,  though  in  feeble 
health,  was  very  active  in  rallying  broken  troops, 
encouraging  the  steadfast,  and  aiding  to  form  the 
lines  of  defense  and  attack.  Major  Sanger's  intel 
ligence,  quick  perception  and  rapid  execution,  were 
of  very  great  value  to  the  commander-in-chief, 
especially  in  bringing  into  line  the  batteries  that 
cooperated  so  efficiently  in  their  movements.  Cap 
tains  McCoy  and  Dayton,  aids-de-camp,  were 
with  Sherman  all  the  time,  carrying  orders,  and 
acted  with  coolness,  spirit  and  courage.  To  Sur 
geon  Hartshorn  and  Doctor  L'Hommedieu,  hun 
dreds  of  wounded  men  were  indebted  for  the  kind 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  73 

and  excellent  treatment  received  on  the  field  of 
battle,  and  in  the  various  temporary  hospitals 
created  along  the  line  of  our  operations.  They 
worked  day  and  night,  and  did  not  rest  till  all  the 
wounded  of  our  troops,  as  well  as  those  of  the 
enemy,  were  in  safe  and  comfortable  shelter.  Major 
Taylor,  chief  of  artillery,  showed  much  good 
sense  and  judgment,  in  managing  the  batteries  on 
which  so  much  depended.  The  cavalry  of  Sher 
man's  command  kept  to  the  rear,  and  took  little 
part  in  the  action,  but  it  would  have  been  madness 
to  have  exposed  horses  to  the  musketry  fire  under 
which  they  were  compelled  to  remain,  from  Sun 
day  at  eight  A.  M.  till  Monday  at  four  P.  M. 

Major-General  Halleck,  in  a  dispatch  to  Secre 
tary  Stanton,  dated  Pittsburg,  Tenn.,  said: 

"  It  is  the  unanimous  opinion  here  that  Briga 
dier-General  "W.  T.  Sherman  saved  the  fortune  of 
the  6th,  and  contributed  largely  to  the  glorious 
victory  on  the  7th.  He  was  in  the  thickest  of 
the  fight  on  both  days,  having  three  horses  killed 
under  him,  and  being  wounded  twice.  I  respect 
fully  request  that  he  be  made  a  Major-General  of 
Volunteers,  to  date  from  the  6th  instant." 

General  Nelson,  a  few  days  before  his  death,  in 
conversation  with  several  gentlemen,  said  :  "  Du 
ring  eight  hours,  the  fate  of  the  army  on  the  field 
of  Shiloh  depended  on  the  life  of  one  man :  if 


74  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

General  Sherman  had  fallen,  the  army  would  have 
been  captured  or  destroyed." 

General  Boyle  was  speaking  to  a  crowd  of  men 
at  Willard's,  in  Washington,  when  Chief-Justice 
Ewing,  of  Kansas,  entered  the  room  and  heard  him 
say :  "  You  do  not  know  how  to  appreciate  our 
military  men.  If  Napoleon  Bonaparte  had  com 
manded  at  Shiloh,  he  would  have  made  General 
Sherman  a  field-marshal  on  the  field  of  battle." 

General  Rousseau,  who  was  also  in  the  battle  of 
the  7th,  in  a  public  speech,  at  an  ovation  given 
him  in  Louisville,  on  the  15th  of  June,  says :  "  I 
wish  to  say  a  word  of  General  Sherman.  You  do 
not  know  him,  though  you  may  think  you  do.  He 
stayed  with  us  while  Buckner  was  most  expected, 
but  at  last,  in  obedience  to  commands,  he  left  our 
State.  He  gave  us  our  first  lessons  in  the  field,  in 
the  face  of  the  enemy;  and  of  all  the  men  I  ever 
saw,  he  is  the  most  untiring,  vigilant  and  patient. 
No  man  that  ever  lived  could  surpass  him.  His 
enemies  say  that  he  was  surprised  at  Shiloh.  I 
tell  you,  no.  He  was  not  surprised,  nor  whipped  ; 
for  he  fights  by  the  week.  Devoid  of  ambition, 
incapable  of  envy,  he  is  brave,  gallant,  and  just. 
At  Shiloh,  his  old  legion  met  hvm  just  as  the  battle 
was  ended,  and  at  the  sight  of  him,  placing  their 
hats  upon  their  bayonets,  gave  him  three  cheers. 
It  was  a  touching  and  fitting  compliment  to  the 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  75 

gallant  chieftain.  I  am  thankful  for  this  occasion 
to  do  justice  to  a  brave,  honest,  and  knightly 
gentleman." 

In  a  letter  to  the  War  Department,  dated  July 
26th,  1863,  General  Grant  says:  "General  Sher 
man,  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  on  the  first  day,  held, 
with  raw  troops,  the  key-point  of  the  landing.  It 
is  no  disparagement  to  any  other  officer,  to  say  that 
I  do  not  believe  there  was  another  division  com 
mander  on  the  field,  who  had  the  skill  and  experi 
ence  to  have  done  it.  To  his  individual  efforts  I  am 
indebted  for  the  success  of  that  battle." 

A  cavalry  officer  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  relates 
many  incidents  illustrative  of  Sherman's  character. 
He  says:  "Having  occasion  to  report  personally 
to  General  Sherman  about  noon  of  the  first  day 
at  Shiloh,  I  found  him  dismounted,  his  arm  in  a 
sling,  his  hand  bleeding,  his  horse  dead,  himself 
covered  with  dust,  his  face  besmeared  with  powder 
and  blood ;  he  was  giving  directions  at  the  moment 
to  Major  Taylor,  his  chief  of  artillery,  who  had 
just  brought  a  battery  into  position.  Mounted 
orderlies  were  coming  and  going  in  haste ;  staff- 
officers  were  making  anxious  inquiries ;  everybody 
but  himself  seemed  excited.  The  battle  was  raging 
terrifically  in  every  direction.  Just  then,  there 
seemed  to  be  universal  commotion  on  our  right, 
where  it  was  observed  that  our  men  were  giving 


76  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

"back.  {I  was  looking  for  that/  said  Sherman; 
<  but  I  am  ready  for  them.'  His  quick,  sharp  eyes 
flashed,  and  his  war-begrimed  face  beamed  with 
satisfaction.  The  enemy's  packed  columns  now 
made  their  appearance,  and  as  quickly  the  guns 
which  Sherman  had  so  carefully  placed  in  position, 
began  to  speak.  The  deadly  effect  on  the  enemy 
was  apparent.  "While  Sherman  was  still  managing 
the  artillery,  Major  Sanger,  a  staff  officer,  called 
his  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  enemy's  cavalry 
was  charging  towards  the  battery.  i  Order  these 
two  companies  of  infantry,5  was  the  quick  reply, 
and  the  general  coolly  went  on  with  his  guns.  The 
cavalry  made  a  gallant  charge,  but  their  horses 
carried  back  empty  saddles.  The  enemy  was  evi 
dently  foiled.  Our  men,  gaining  fresh  courage, 
rallied  again,  and  for  the  first  time  that  day,  the 
enemy  was  held  stubbornly  in  check.  A  moment 
more,  and  he  fell  back  on  the  piles  of  his  dead  and 
wounded." 

With  the  following  interesting  letter,  we  close 
this  chapter,  which  will  serve  the  purpose  of  cor 
recting  erroneous  and  widely  circulated  reports 
concerning  two  of  the  generals  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  and  at  the  same  time  will  give  us 
additional  insight  into  the  character  of  Sherman : 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  77 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  1 
OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI.         J 

PROF.  HENRY  COPPEE,  Philadelphia  : 

DEAR  SIR  :  In  the  June  number  of  the  United 
States  Service  Magazine  I  find  a  brief  sketch  of  Lieu 
tenant-General  U.  S.  Grant,  in  which  I  see  you  are 
likely  to  perpetuate  an  error,  which  General  Grant 
may  not  deem  of  sufficient  importance  to  correct. 
To  General  BuelPs  noble,  able  and  gallant  conduct, 
you  attribute  the  fact  that  the  disaster  of  April  6th, 
at  Pittsburg  Landing,  was  retrieved,  and  made  the 
victory  of  the  following  day.  As  General  Taylor 
is  said,  in  his  latter  days,  to  have  doubted  whether 
he  was  at  the  battle  of  Buena  Yista  at  all,  on 
account  of  the  many  things  having  transpired  there, 
according  to  the  historians,  which  he  did  not  see,  so 
I  begin  to  so  doubt  whether  I  was  at  the  battle  of 
Pittsburg  Landing  of  April  6th  and  7th,  1862.  Gen 
eral  Grant  visited  my  division  about  ten  A.  M., 
when  the  battle  raged  fiercest.  I  was  then  on  the 
right.  After  some  general  conversation,  he  re 
marked  that  I  was  doing  right  in  stubbornly  oppos 
ing  the  progress  of  the  enemy ;  and  in  answer  to 
my  inquiry  as  to  cartridges,  he  told  me  that  he  had 
anticipated  their  want,  and  given  orders  accor 
dingly  ;  he  then  said  his  presence  was  more  needed 
over  at  the  left.  About  two  P.  M.  of  the  6th,  the 
enemy  materially  slackened  his  attack  on  me,  and 


78  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

about  four  P.  M.,  I  deliberately  made  a  line  behind 
Me  Arthur's  drill  field,  placing  batteries  on  chosen 
ground,  repelling  easily  a  cavalry  attack,  and 
watched  the  cautious  approach  of  the  enemy's  in 
fantry,  that  never  dislodged  me  there.  I  selected 
that  line  in  advance  of  a  bridge  across  Snake 
Creek,  by  which  we  had  all  day  been  expecting  the 
approach  of  Lew.  "Wallace's  division  from  Crump's 
Landing.  About  five  P.  M.,  before  the  sun  set, 
General  Grant  came  again  to  me,  and  after  hearing 
my  report  of  matters,  explained  to  me  the  situation 
of  affairs  on  the  left,  which  were  not  as  favorable ; 
still  the  enemy  had  failed  to  reach  the  landing  of 
the  boats.  We  agreed  that  the  enemy  had  expended 
the  furore  of  his  attack,  and  we  estimated  our  loss, 
and  approximated  our  then  strength,  including 
Lewis  Wallace's  fresh  division,  expected  each 
minute.  He  then  ordered  me  to  get  all  things 
ready,  and  at  daylight  the  next  day  to  assume  the 
offensive.  That  was  before  General  Buell  had 
arrived,  but  he  was  known  to  be  near  at  hand. 
General  Buell's  troops  took  no  essential  part  in  the 
first  day's  fight,  and  Grant's  army,  though  collected 
together  hastily,  green  as  militia,  some  regiments 
arriving  without  cartridges  even,  and  nearly  all 
hearing  the  dread  sound  of  battle  for  the  first 
time,  had  successfully  withstood  and  repelled  the 
first  day's  terrific  onset  of  a  superior  enemy,  well 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  79 

commanded  and  well  handled.  I  know  I  had 
orders  from  General  Grant  to  assume  the  offensive 
before  I  knew  General  Buell  was  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Tennessee.  I  think  General  Buell,  Colonel 
Fry,  and  others  of  General  Buell's  staff',  rode  up 
to  where  I  was  about  sunset,  about  the  time  Gen 
eral  Grant  wag  leaving  me.  General  Buell  asked 
me  many  questions,  and  got  of  me  a  small  map, 
which  I  had  made  for  my  own  use,  and  told  me 
that  by  daylight  he  could  have  eighteen  thousand 
fresh  men,  which  I  knew  would  settle  the  matter. 

I  understood  Grant's  forces  were  to  advance  on 
the  right  of  the  Corinth  Road  and  Buell's  on  the 
left,  and  accordingly  at  daylight  I  advanced  my 
division  by  the  flank,  the  resistance  being  trivial, 
up  to  the  very  spot  where  the  day  before  the  battle 
had  been  most  severe,  and  then  waited  till  near 
noon  for  Buell's  troops  to  get  up  abreast,  when  the 
entire  line  advanced  and  recovered  all  the  ground 
we  had  ever  held.  I  know  that  with  the  excep 
tion  of  one  or  two  severe  struggles,  the  fighting  of 
April  7th  was  easy,  as  compared  with  that  of 
April  6th. 

I  never  was  disposed,  nor  am  I  now,  to  question 
anything  done  by  General  Buell  and  his  army,  and 
know  that,  approaching  our  field  of  battle  from  the 
rear,  he  encountered  that  sickening  crowd  of  lag 
gards  and  fugitives  that  excited  his  contempt  and 


80  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

that  of  his  army,  who  never  gave  full  credit  to 
those  in  the  front  line,  who  did  fight  hard,  and  who 
had,  at  four  P.  M.,  checked  the  enemy,  and  were 
preparing  the  next  day  to  assume  the  offensive.  I 
remember  the  fact  better  from  General  Grant's 
anecdote  of  his  Donelson  battle,  which  he  told  me 
then  for  the  first  time — that,  at  a  certain  period  of 
the  battle,  he  saw  that  either  was  ready  to  give 
way  if  the  other  showed  a  bold  front,  and  he  deter 
mined  to  do  that  very  thing,  to  advance  on  the 
enemy  when,  as  he  prognosticated,  the  enemy  sur 
rendered.  At  four  P.  M.  of  April  6th,  he  thought 
the  appearance  the  same,  and  he  judged,  with  Lew. 
Wallace's  fresh  division  and  such  of  our  startled 
troops  as  had  recovered  their  equilibrium,  he  would 
be  justified  in  dropping  the  defensive  and  assum 
ing  the  offensive  in  the  morning.  And  I  repeat,  I 
received  such  orders  before  I  knew  General  Buell's 
troops  were  at  the  river.  I  admit  that  I  was  glad 
that  Buell  was  there,  because  I  knew  his  troops 
were  older  than  ours,  and  better  systematized 
and  drilled,  and  his  arrival  made  that  certain 
which  before  was  uncertain.  I  have  heard  this 
question  much  discussed,  and  must  say  that  the 
officers  of  Buell's  army  dwelt  too  much  on  the 
stampede  of  some  of  our  raw  troops,  and  gave 
us  too  little  credit  for  the  fact  that  for  one  whole 
day,  weakened  as  we  were  by  the  absence  of  Buell's 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  81 

army,  long  expected;  of  Lew.  Wallace's  division, 
only  four  miles  off,  and  of  the  fugitives  from  our 
ranks,  we  had  beaten  off  our  assailants  for  the  time. 
At  the  same  time  our  Army  of  the  Tennessee  have 
indulged  in  severe  criticism  at  the  slow  approach  of 
that  army  which  knew  the  danger  that  threatened 
us  from  the  concentrated  armies  of  Johnston, 
Beauregard  and  Bragg  that  lay  at  Corinth.  In  a 
war  like  this,  where  opportunities  of  personal 
prowess  are  as  plenty  as  blackberries  to  those  who 
seek  them  at  the  front,  all  such  criminations  should 
be  frowned  down ;  and  were  it  not  for  the  military 
character  of  your  journal  I  would  not  venture  to 
offer  a  correction  of  a  very  popular  error. 

I  will  also  avail  myself  of  this  occasion  to  cor 
rect  another  very  common  mistake  in  attributing 
to  General  Grant  the  selection  of  that  battlefield. 
It  was  chosen  by  that  veteran  soldier,  Major  Gen 
eral  Charles  F.  Smith,  who  ordered  my  division  to 
disembark  there,  and  strike  for  the  Charleston 
Kailroad.  This  order  was  subsequently  modified 
by  his  ordering  Hurlbut's  division  to  disembark 
there,  and  mine  higher  up  the  Tennessee  to  the 
mouth  of  Yellow  Creek,  to  strike  the  railroad  at 
Burnsville.  But  floods  prevented  our  reaching 
the  railroad,  when  General  Smith  ordered  me  in 
person  also  to  disembark  at  Pittsburg,  and  take 
post  well  out,  so  as  to  make  plenty  of  room,  with 


82  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Snake  and  Lick  Creeks  the  flanks  of  a  camp  for 
the  grand  army  of  invasion. 

It  was  General  Smith  who  selected  that  field  of 
battle,  and  it  was  well  chosen.  On  any  other  we 
surely  would  have  been  overwhelmed,  as  both  Lick 
and  Snake  Creeks  forced  the  enemy  to  confine  his 
movements  to  a  direct  front  attack,  which  new 
troops  are  better  qualified  to  resist  than  where 
flanks  are  exposed  to  a  real  or  chimerical  danger. 
Even  the  divisions  of  that  army  were  arranged  in 
that  camp  by  General  Smith's  orders,  my  division 
forming,  as  it  were,  the  outlying  picket,  whilst 
McClernand's  and  Prentiss'  were  the  real  line  of 
battle,  with  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  in  support  of  the 
right  wing,  and  Hurlbut  of  the  left ;  Lew.  Wallace's 
division  being  detached.  All  these  subordinate 
dispositions  were  made  by  the  order  of  General 
Smith,  before  General  Grant  succeeded  him  to  the 
command  of  all  the  forces  up  the  Tennessee — 
head-quarters,  Savannah.  If  there  was  any  error 
in  putting  that  army  on  the  west  side  of  the  Ten 
nessee,  exposed  to  the  superior  force  of  the  enemy 
also  assembling  at  Corinth,  the  mistake  was  not 
General  Grant's — but  there  was  no  mistake.  It 
was  necessary  that  a  combat,  fierce  and  bitter,  to 
test  the  manhood  of  the  two  armies,  should  come 
off,  and  that  was  as  good  a  place  as  any.  It  was 
not  then  a  question  of  military  skill  and  strategy, 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  83 

but  of  courage  and  pluck,  and  I  am  convinced  that 
every  life  lost  to  us  that  day  was  necessary;  for 
otherwise  at  Corinth,  at  Memphis,  at  Yicksburg, 
we  would  have  found  harder  resistance,  had  we  not 
shown  our  enemies  that,  rude  and  untutored  as  we 
then  were,  we  could  fight  as  well  as  they. 

Excuse  so  long  a  letter,  which  is  very  unusual 
from  me,  but  of  course  my  .life  is  liable  to  cease  at 
any  moment,  and  I  happen  to  be  a  witness  to  cer 
tain  truths  which  are  now  beginning  to  pass  out  of 
memory,  and  form  what  is  called  history. 

I  also  take  great  pleasure  in  adding  that  nearly 
all  the  new  troops  that  at  Shiloh  drew  from  me 
official  censure  have  more  than  redeemed  their 
good  name;  among  them  that  very  regiment 
which  first  broke,  the  Fifty-third  Ohio,  Colonel 
Appier.  Under  another  leader,  Colonel  Jones,  it 
has  shared  every  campaign  and  expedition  of 
mine  since,  is  with  me  now,  and  can  march  and 
bivouac  and  fight  as  well  as  the  best  regiment  in 
this  or  any  army.  Its  reputation  now  is  equal  to 
any  from  the  State  of  Ohio. 

I  am,  with  respect, 
Yours,  truly, 

W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

SHERMAN  AND  THE  SIEGE  OF  CORINTH. 

MARCH  TOWARD  CORINTH SKIRMISHING  AT  MONTEREY 

AND  PURDY SIEGE  OF  CORINTH  COMMENCES BATTLE 

OF   RUSSELL'S   HOUSE  —  EVACUATION   OF   CORINTH  — 

OCCUPATION   OF   THE   CITY  BY  THE  UNION  TROOPS 

PURSUIT  BY  GENERAL  M.  L.  SMITH  TO  TUSCUMBIA 
CREEK — SHERMAN'S  CONGRATULATORY  ORDER — INCI 
DENTS  TAKES  POSSESSION  OF  HOLLY  SPRINGS  — 

APPOINTED  THE  MILITARY  COMMANDER  OF  MEMPHIS, 
TENNESSEE. 

After  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  cavalry 
skirmishes  occurred  at  intervals,  along  the  outposts 
of  the  Union  army,  but  nothing  of  importance 
transpired,  until  the  movement  was  made  toward 
Corinth,  on  the  17th  of  April,  1862.  All  along 
the  line  of  march,  from  Pittsburg  Landing  to 
Corinth,  the  advance  of  our  army  was  signalized 
by  reconnoissances  and  skirmishes.  On  the  27th 
of  April,  a  cavalry  skirmish  took  place  near  Mon 
terey,  ten  miles  from  Corinth,  at  which  time  several 
rebel  prisoners  were  taken.  Two  days  after,  skir 
mishing  occurred  again,  resulting  in  the  capture  of 
more  prisoners,  and  of  the  rebel  camps.  On  the 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  85 

30th  day  of  April,  Purdy,  on  the  Jackson  and 
Corinth  Raiboad,  which  place  had  been  abandoned 
a  few  days  previous,  was  occupied  by  the  Union 
army,  they  succeeding  in  cutting  off  all  railroad 
communications  between  Corinth  and  Northwestern 
Tennessee. 

The  siege  of  Corinth,  may  be  said  to  have  com 
menced  on  the  30th  of  April.  The  Union  com 
manders  were  continually  sending  out  reconnois- 
sances,  and  on  the  8th  of  May,  we  find  their  cavalry 
within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  Corinth.  The  rebels 
made  several  dashes  on  the  Union  lines,  causing 
some  of  the  forces  on  the  left  to  retire. 

On  the  llth  of  May,  it  was  decided  by  the  gen 
eral  officers,  that  an  advance  of  the  whole  army 
should  take  place,  and  they  accordingly  pressed 
forward  to  Corinth,  where  all  felt  that  a  terrible 
battle  would  soon  occur.  The  Union  troops  met 
with  resistance  as  they  proceeded  on  their  march, 
and  on  the  17th  of  May,  the  Fifth  Division  under 
General  Sherman,  encountered  the  rebels  near 
Russell's  house,  causing  them  to  fall  back,  while 
the  Unionists  took  possession  of  the  position. 

We  learn  from  General  Sherman^  official  report 
that  in  compliance  with  the  purpose  of  Major- 
General  Halleck,  he  made  all  possible  inquiry  as 
to  the  topography  of  the  ground  in  his  front,  with 
its  water  courses,  fields,  and  roads,  and  on  the 
H 


86  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

17th  made  disposition  to  drive  the  enemy  from 
his  position  at  Russell's  house. 

He  requested  General  Hurlbut  to  put  in  motion 
two  regiments  and  a  battery  of  artillery,  at  three 
o'clock  P.  M.,  on  the  road  which  passes  the  front 
of  his  line,  and  runs  to  Russell's  house.  He 
ordered  General  Denver  to  take  a  right-hand  road 
with  two  regiments  of  his  brigade  and  one  battery 
of  light  artillery,  namely,  the  Seventieth  and  Sev 
enty-second  Ohio,  and  Barrett's  battery,  and  gave 
him  a  guide  so  to  conduct  his  march  as  to  arrive 
on  the  left  of  the  enemy's  position  by  the  time  he 
was  engaged  in  front;  and  ordered  General  Mor 
gan  L.  Smith's  brigade,  with  Benton's  battery,  to 
follow  the  main  road,  drive  back  a  brigade  of  the 
enemy's  forces  that  held  a  position  at  Russell's  with 
their  skirmishers  and  pickets,  down  to  the  cause 
way  and  bridge  across  a  small  stream,  about  eight 
hundred  yards  from  Russell's  house,  supposed  to 
be  a  branch  of  Bridge  Creek. 

All  these  forces  were  put  in  motion  at  three  P. 
M.,  General  Denver's  forces  taking  the  right-hand 
road,  and  General  Smith's  the  direct  main  road. 
On  reaching  the'causeway,  General  Smith  deployed 
his  skirmishers  forward,  and  sent  out  his  advance- 
guard.  The  column  advanced,  and  the  skirmish 
ers  became  engaged  at  once.  The  firing  was  brisk, 
but  the  enemy's  pickets  were  driven  steadily  back, 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  87 

till  they  reached  the  position  of  their  brigade  at 
Russell's  house,  where  their  resistance  was  obsti 
nate. 

The  ground  was  unfavorable  to  artillery  till  the 
skirmishers  had  cleared  the  hill  beyond  the  cause 
way,  when  Major  Taylor,  chief  of  artillery,  ad 
vanced  first  one  of  Benton's  guns,  and  very  soon 
after,  the  remaining  three  guns  of  the  battery. 
These,  upon  reaching  the  hill-top,  commenced 
firing  at  Russell's  house  and  outhouses,  in  which 
the  enemy  had  taken  shelter,  when  their  whole 
force  retreated,  and  the  position  occupied  three 
hundred  yards  in  advance,  where  the  roads 
meet.  This  was  the  limit  to  which  Sherman  had 
ordered  the  brigade  to  go,  and  there  it  halted. 
The  head  of  General  Denver's  column  reached  its 
position  as  the  enemy  was  beginning  to  retreat. 

General  Morgan  L.  Smith  conducted  the  advance 
of  his  brigade  handsomely,  and  the  chief  work  and 
loss  fell  upon  his  two  leading  regiments,  the  Eighth 
Missouri,  and  Fifty-fifth  Illinois.  To  General 
Smith  was  due  the  full  credit  of  conducting  the 
advance,  and  of  carrying  the  position  at  Russell's. 
He  held  the  ground  till  about  daylight  next  mor 
ning,  when,  by  order  of  General  Sherman,  he  left 
a  strong  picket  there,  and  placed  his  brigade  back 
a  short  distance  in  easy  support,  where  it  remained 
until  relieved  by  another  brigade. 


88 

From  Kussell's  could  distinctly  be  heard  the 
drums  beating  in  Corinth.  The  house  is  nearly 
a  mile  and  a  quarter  from  the  enemy's  outer 
intrenchments. 

There  was  no  loss  sustained  by  G-enerals  Hurl- 
but's  or  Denver's  commands  in  their  flank  move 
ments  on  Russell's ;  but  the  loss  in  General  Mor 
gan  L.  Smith's  was  pretty  heavy — ten  killed  and 
thirty-one  wounded.  The  confederates  left  twelve 
dead  on  the  ground.  They  removed  their  wounded, 
of  which  many  traces  were  on  the  ground  and  in 
the  house.  Among  their  dead  were  one  captain, 
and  two  lieutenants. 

General  Sherman's  division  was  again  brought 
in  action  on  the  27th  of  May.  The  rebels,  although 
outnumbering  our  forces,  retreated,  and  it  was 
thought  the  contest  was  for  the  purpose  of  detain 
ing  the  advance  of  the  Union  army.  On  the  28th, 
a  portion  of  the  troops  advanced  to  within  gun 
shot  of  the  rebel  works,  causing  the  rebels  to 
retreat,  with  considerable  loss.  On  the  30th  of 
May,  the  Union  army  marched  into  Corinth,  the 
enemy  having  withdrawn  the  last  of  their  forces 
about  midnight  the  night  previous.  A  portion  of 
our  army  followed  the  retreating  rebels. 

General  Sherman,  in  hh  official  report  of  the 
occupation  of  Corinth,  says  that  after  driving  the 
enemy  away  from  Russell's  house,  they  found  the 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  89 

place  one  of  great  natural  strength,  and  proceeded 
to  fortify  it.  Lines  were  laid  off  by  the  engineer, 
Captain  Kossak,  and  a  very  excellent  parapet  was 
constructed  by  the  men  in  a  style  that  elicited  the 
approval  of  General  Halleck.  Men  worked  day 
and  night,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  done,  and  the 
dense  trees  and  undergrowth  cleared  away  in  front, 
to  give  range  to  our  batteries,  Sherman  directed 
his  pickets  to  drive  the  enemy  further  back  behind 
a  large  open  field  to  his  front  and  right.  This  was 
handsomely  executed  by  the  regular  detail  of  picket- 
guard,  under  the  direction  of  the  field  ofiicer  of  the 
day,  Lieutenant-Colonel  London,  of  the  Seventieth 
Ohio. 

They  remained  in  that  intrenched  camp  until  the 
night  of  the  27th,  when  Sherman  received  from 
Halleck  an  order  by  telegraph,  "  to  send  a  force 
the  next  day  to  drive  the  rebels  from  the  house  in 
our  front  on  the  Corinth  Road;  to  drive  in  their 
pickets  as  far  as  possible,  and  to  make  strong 
demonstrations  on  Corinth  itself,"  authorizing  him 
to  call  on  any  adjacent  divisions  for  assistance. 
He  asked  G-eneral  McClernand  for  one  brigade 
and  G-eneral  Hurlbut  for  another,  to  cooperate 
with  two  brigades  of  his  own  division.  Colonel 
John  A.  Logan's  brigade,  of  General  Judah's  divi 
sion  of  McClernand's  reserve  corps,  and  General 
Veatch's  brigade,  of  Hurlbut's  division,  were 


90 

placed  subject  to  Sherman's  orders,  and  took  part 
with  his  division  in  the  operations  of  the  two 
following  days. 

The  house  referred  to  by  General  Halleck  was  a 
double  log  building,  standing  on  a  high  ridge  on 
the  upper  or  southern  end  of  the  large  field  before 
referred  to  as  the  one  to  which  our  pickets  had 
advanced.  The  enemy  had  taken  out  the  chinks 
and  removed  the  roof,  making  it  an  excellent 
block-house  from  which,  with  perfect  security,  he 
could  fire  among  our  pickets.  The  large  field  was 
perfectly  overlooked  by  this  house,  as  well  as  by 
the  ridge  along  its  southern  line  of  defense,  which 
was  covered  by  a  dense  grove  of  heavy  oaks  and 
underbrush.  The  main  Corinth  Road  runs  along 
the  eastern  fence,  whilst  the  field  itself,  about  three 
hundred  yards  wide  by  about  five  hundred  yards 
long,  extended  to  the  right  into  the  low  land  of 
Philip's  Creek,  so  densely  wooded  as  to  be  impas 
sable  to  troops  or  artillery.  On  the  eastern  side  of 
the  field  the  woods  were  more  open.  The  enemy 
could  be  seen  at  all  times  in  and  about  the  house 
and  the  ridge  beyond,  and  our  pickets  could  not 
show  themselves  on  our  side  of  the  field  without 
attracting  a  shot. 

The  problem  was  to  clear  the  house  and  ridge  of 
the  enemy  with  as  little  loss  as  possible.  To  accom 
plish  this,  Sherman  ordered  General  J.  W.  Denver, 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  91 

with  Ms  brigade  (Third),  and  the  Morton  battery 
of  four  guns,  to  march  in  perfect  silence  from  our 
lines  at  eight  A.  M.,  keeping  well  under  cover  as 
he  approached  the  field;  General  Morgan  L. 
Smith's  brigade  (First),  with  Barrett's  and  Water- 
house's  batteries,  to  move  along  the  main  road, 
keeping  his  force  well  masked  in  the  woods  to  the 
left ;  Brigadier  General  Yeatch's  brigade  to  move 
from  Hurlbut's  lines  through  the  woods  on  the 
left  of  and  connecting  with  General  M.  L.  Smith's 
and  General  John  A.  Logan's  brigades,  to  move 
down  to  Bowie  Hill  Cut,  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  and  thence  forward  to  the  left,  so  as  to 
connect  with  General  Denver's  brigade,  on  the  ex 
treme  right;  all  to  march  at  eight  A.  M.,  with 
skirmishers  well  to  the  front ;  all  to  keep  well  con 
cealed,  and,  at  a  signal,  to  rush  quickly  on  to  the 
ridge,  thus  avoiding,  as  much  as  possible,  the  danger 
of  crossing  the  open  field  exposed  to  the  fire  of  a 
concealed  enemy.  It  was  impossible  beforehand  to 
ascertain  the  force  of  the  enemy,  and  nothing  is 
more  embarrassing  than  to  make  dispositions 
against  a  concealed  foe  occupying,  as  this  was,  a 
strong  natural  position. 

The  preliminary  arrangements  having  thus  been 
made,  two  twenty-four  pound  Parrot  rifle  guns,  of 
Silversparre's  battery,  under  the  immediate  super 
vision  of  Major  Taylor,  chief  of  artillery,  were 


92  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

moved  silently  through  tlie  forest  to  a  point  behind 
the  hills,  from  the  top  of  which  could  be  seen  the 
house  and  ground  to  be  contested.  The  guns  were 
unlimbered,  loaded  with  shell,  and  moved  by  hand 
to  the  crest.  At  the  proper  time  Sherman  gave 
the  order  to  Major  Taylor  to  commence  firing  and 
demolish  the  house,  or  render  it  decidedly  uncom 
fortable  to  its  occupants.  About  a  dozen  shells, 
well  directed,  soon  accomplished  this;  then  desig 
nating  a  single  shot  of  the  twenty-four  pound  Par 
rot  gun  of  Silversparre  as  a  signal  for  the  brigades 
to  advance,  he  waited  till  all  were  in  position,  and 
ordered  the  signal,  when  the  troops  dashed  forward 
in  fine  style,  crossed  the  field,  drove  the  enemy 
across  the  ridge  and  field  beyond  into  another 
dense  and  seemingly  impenetrable  forest.  The 
enemy  was  evidently  surprised,  and  only  killed  two 
of  our  men,  and  wounded  nine.  After  he  had 
reached  the  ridge,  he  opened  on  us  with  a  two-gun 
battery  on  the  right  and  another  from  the  front  and 
left,  doing  but  little  harm,  but  killing  three  of 
General  Yeatch's  men.  With  the  artillery,  the 
rebel  guns  were  soon  silenced,  and  by  ten  A.  M.  the 
Union  troops  were  masters  of  the  position.  Gen 
erals  Grant  and  Thomas  were  present,  and  wit 
nessed  the  movement,  which  was  admirably  execu 
ted,  all  the  officers  and  men  keeping  their  places 
like  true  soldiers. 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS. 


93 


Immediately  throwing  forward  a  line  of  skir 
mishers  in  front  of  each  brigade,  we  found  the 
enemy  reenforcing  his  front  skirmishers ;  but  the 
woods  were  so  dense  as  to  completely  mask  his 
operations.  An  irregular  piece  of  cleared  land  lay 
immediately  in  front  of  General  Denver's  position, 
and  extended  obliquely  to  the  left,  in  front  of  and 
across  Morgan  Smith's  and  Yeatch's  brigades, 
which  were  posted  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  main 
Corinth  Koad,  leading  directly  south.  For  some 
time  it  was  doubtful  whether  the  artillery  fire  had 
come  from  the  enemy's  fixed  or  field  batteries,  and 
Sherman  intended  to  move  forward  at  great  hazard 
to  ascertain  the  fact,  when,  about  three  P.  M.,  our 
troops  were  startled  by  the  rattle  of  musketry  along 
their  whole  picket  line,  followed  by  the  cheers  and 
yells  of  an  attacking  column. 

The  artillery,  and  Mann's  battery  of  Yeatch's 
brigade,  had  been  judiciously  posted  by  Major 
Taylor,  and  before  the  yell  of  the  enemy  had  died 
away  arose  their  reply  in  the  cannon's  mouth.  The 
firing  was  very  good,  rapid,  well  directed,  and  the 
shells  burst  in  the  right  place.  Our  pickets  were 
at  first  driven  in  a  little,  but  soon  recovered  their 
ground  and  held  it,  and  the  enemy  retreated  in 
utter  confusion.  On  further  examination  of  the 
ground,  with  its  connection  on  the  left  with  Gen 
eral  Hurlbut,  and  right  resting  on  Bowie  Hill  Cut, 


94  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

it  was  determined  to  intrench.  The  lines  were  laid 
out  after  dark,  and  the  work  substantially  finished 
by  morning. 

All  this  time  the  Federal  forces  were  within  one 
thousand  three  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  main 
intrenchments,  which  were  absolutely  concealed 
by  the  dense  foliage  of  the  oak  forest,  and  without 
a  real  battle,  which  at  that  time  was  to  be  avoided, 
we  could  not  push  out  our  skirmishers  more  than 
two  hundred  yards  to  the  front.  For  our  secu 
rity,  Sherman  was  obliged  to  destroy  two  farm 
houses,  both  of  which  had  been  loop-holed  and 
occupied  by  the  enemy.  By  nine  A.  M.  of  the 
29th,  the  works  of  the  Unionists  were  substantially 
done,  and  their  artillery  in  position,  and  at  four 
P.  M.  the  siege-train  was  brought  forward,  and 
Colonel  McDowell's  brigade,  (second,)  of  Sher 
man's  division,  had  come  from  their  former  lines 
at  Russell's,  and  had  relieved  General  John  A. 
Logan's  brigade. 

This  officer  during  two  days  held  the  critical 
ground  on  the  right,  extending  down  to  the  rail 
road.  All  the  time  he  had  in  his  front  a  large  force 
of  the  enemy,  but  so  dense  was  the  foliage,  that  he 
could  not  reckon  their  strength,  save  from  what  he 
could  see  on  the  railroad  track. 

Sherman  had  then  his  whole  division  in  a  slightly 
curved  line,  facing  south,  his  right  resting  on  the 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  95 

Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad,  near  a  deep  cut,  known 
as  Bowie  Hill  Cut,  and  left  resting  on  the  main 
Corinth  Road,  at  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  there  con- 
nectiug  with  General  Hurlbut,  who,  in  turn,  on 
his  left,  connected  with  General  Davies,  and  so  on 
down  the  whole  line  to  its  extremity.  So  near 
was  the  enemy  that  the  sound  of  his  drums,  and 
sometimes  of  voices  in  command,  could  be  heard, 
and  the  railroad  cars  arriving  and  departing  at 
Corinth  were  easily  distinguished.  The  arrivals 
and  departures  were  so  frequent,  especially  on  the 
night  of  the  29th,  that  the  suspicions  of  General 
Sherman  were  aroused. 

Before  daybreak  he  instructed  the  brigade  com 
manders  and  field  officers  of  the  day,  to  feel  for 
ward  as  far  as  possible,  but  all  reported  the  enemy's 
pickets  still  in  force  in  the  dense  wroods  to  the  front. 
But  about  six  A.  M.,  a  curious  explosion,  sounding 
like  a  volley  of  large  siege-guns,  followed  by  otners 
singly,  and  in  twos  or  threes,  arrested  the  attention 
of  the  Union  commanders,  and  soon  after  a  large 
smoke  arose  from  the  direction  of  Corinth,  when 
Sherman  telegraphed  to  Halleck  to  ascertain  the 
cause.  He  answered  that  he  could  not  explain  it, 
but  ordered  Sherman  to  advance  his  division  and 
feel  the  enemy,  if  still  in  his  front.  He  immediately 
put  in  motion  two  regiments  of  each  brigade,  by 
different  roads,  and  soon  after,  followed  with  the 
whole  division,  infantry,  artillery,  and  cavalry. 


96 

Somewhat  to  his  surprise,  the  enemy's  chief 
redoubt  was  found  within  thirteen  hundred  yards 
of  his  line  of  intrenchments,  but  completely  masked 
by  the  thick  forest  and  undergrowth.  Instead  of 
having  as  was  supposed,  a  continuous  line  of  in 
trenchments  encircling  Corinth,  his  defences  con 
sisted  of  separate  redoubts,  connected  in  part  by 
a  parapet  and  ditch,  and  in  part  by  shallow  rifle-pits, 
the  trees  being  felled  so  as  to  give  a  good  field  of 
fire  to  and  beyond  the  main  road. 

General  M.  L.  Smith's  brigade  moved  rapidly 
down  the  main  road,  entering  the  first  redoubt  of 
the  enemy  at  seven  A.  M.  It  was  completely  evacu 
ated,  and  he  pushed  on  into  Corinth,  and  beyond 
to  College  Hill,  there  awaiting  the  orders  of  Sher 
man.  General  Denver  entered  the  enemy's  lines 
at  the  same  time,  seven  A.  M.r  at  a  point  midway 
between  the  wagon  and  railroads,  and  proceeded 
on  to  Corinth,  about  three  miles  from  the  camp, 
and  Colonel  McDowell  kept  further  to  the  right, 
near  the  Mobile  and  Ohic  Railroad.  By  eight 
A.  M.  Sherman's  division  was  at  Corinth,  and 
beyond. 

On  the  whole  ridge  extending  from  our  camp 
into  Corinth,  and  to  the  right  and  left,  could  be 
seen  the  remains  of  the  abandoned  camps  of  the 
enemy,  flour  and  provisions  scattered  about,  and 
everything  indicating  a  speedy  and  confused  retreat, 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  97 

In  the  town  itself  many  houses  were  still  burning, 
and  the  ruins  of  warehouses  and  buildings,  con 
taining  commissary  and  other  confederate  stores, 
were  still  smouldering ;  but  there  still  remained 
piles  of  cannon  balls,  shells  and  shot,  sugar,  mo 
lasses,  beans,  rice  and  other  property,  which  the 
enemy  had  failed  to  carry  off  or  destroy.  Major 
Fisher,  of  the  Ohio  Fifty-fourth,  was  left  in  Co 
rinth  with  a  provost  guard,  to  prevent  pillage  and 
protect  the  public  stores  still  left. 

From  the  best  information  picked  up  from  the 
few  citizens  who  remained  in  Corinth,  it  appeared 
that  the  enemy  had  for  some  days  been  removing 
their  sick,  and  valuable  stores,  and  had  sent  away 
011  railroad  cars  a  part  of  their  effective  force  on 
the  night  of  the  28th.  But,  of  course,  even  the 
vast  amount  of  their  rolling  stock  could  not  carry 
away  an  army  of  a  hundred  thousand  men. 

The  enemy  was,  therefore,  compelled  to  march 
away,  commencing  on  the  night  of  the  29th — the 
columns  filling  all  the  roads  leading  south  and 
west  all  night — the  rear  guard  firing  the  train 
which  led  to  the  explosions  and  conflagration, 
which  gave  the  first  notice  that  Corinth  was  to  be 
evacuated.  The  enemy  did  not  relieve  his  pickets 
that  morning,  and  many  of  them  were  captured 
who  did  not  have  the  slightest  intimation  of  their 
purpose. 
I 


98  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Finding  Corinth  evacuated  by  the  enemy,  Sher 
man  ordered  General  M.  L.  Smith  to  pursue  on 
the  Ripley  Road,  by  which  it  appeared  they  had 
taken  the  bulk  of  their  artillery. 

Captain  Hammond,  Sherman's  chief  of  staff,  was 
with  General  Smith's  brigade,  and  pushed  the  pur 
suit  up  to  the  bridges  and  narrow  causeway  by 
which  the  bottom  of  Tuscumbia  Creek  is  passed. 
The  enemy  opened  with  canister  on  the  small 
party  of  cavalry,  and  burned  every  bridge,  leaving 
the  woods  fall  of  straggling  soldiers.  Many  of 
these  were  gathered  up  and  sent  to  the  rear,  bufc 
the  main  army  had  escaped  across  Tuscumbia 
Creek,  and  farther  pursuit  by  a  small  party  would 
have  been  absurd,  and  Sherman  kept  his  division 
at  College  Hill,  until  he  received  General  Thomas' 
orders  to  return  and  resume  their  camps  of  the 
day  before,  which  they  did,  slowly  and  quietly,  in 
the  cool  of  the  evening. 

The  evacuation  of  Corinth  at  the  time,  and  in 
the  manner  in  which  it  was  done,  was  a  clear  back 
down  from  the  high  and  arrogant  tone  heretofore 
assumed  by  the  rebels.  The  ground  was  of  their 
own  choice.  The  fortifications,  though  poor  and 
indifferent,  were  all  they  supposed  necessary  to  oui 
defeat,  as  they  had  two  months  to  make  them,  witL 
an  immense  force  to  work  at  their  disposal. 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  99 

Sherman's  division  had  constructed  seven  distinct 
intrenched  camps  since  they  left  Shiloh,  the  men 
working  cheerfully  and  well  all  the  time,  night  and 
day.  Hardly  had  they  finished  one  camp  before 
they  were  called  on  to  move  forward  and  build 
another.  Their  intrenchments  here  and  at  Rus 
sell's,  each  built  substantially  in  one  night,  were 
stronger  works  than  the  much  boasted  forts  of 
the  enemy  at  Corinth. 

Our  line  of  march  was  along  a  strongly  marked 
ridge,  followed  by  the  Purdy  and  Corinth  Road, 
and  after  leaving  the  " Locusts"  the  pickets  were 
continually  fighting.  There  was  hardly  an  hour, 
night  or  day,  for  two  weeks,  without  the  exchange 
of  hostile  shots.  We  slowly  and  surely  gained 
ground  with  a  steadiness  that  presaged  the  inevitable 
result. 

CONGRATULATORY  ORDER   OF    GENERAL    SHERMAN. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  FIFTH  DIVISION  ARMY  OF  TENNESSEE,) 
CAMP  BEFORE  CORINTH,  May  31,  1862.     j 

ORDER  No.  30. 

The  General  commanding  Fifth  division,  right  wing,  takes  this 
occasion  to  express  to  the  officers  and  men  of  his  command  his 
great  satisfaction  with  them  for  the  courage,  steadiness  and  great 
industry  displayed  by  them  during  the  past  month. 

Since  leaving  our  memorable  camp  at  Shiloh,  we  have  occupied 
and  strongly  intrenched  seven  distinct  camps  in  a  manner  to  ex 
cite  the  admiration  and  high  commendation  of  General  Halleck. 


100  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

The  division  has  occupied  the  right  flank  of  the  granu  army, 
thereby  being  more  exposed  and  calling  for  more  hard  work  and 
larger  details  than  from  any  other  single  division — and  the 
Commanding  General  reports  that  his  officers  and  men  have 
promptly  and  cheerfully  performed  their  duty,  and  have  sprung 
to  the  musket  or  spade,  according  to  the  occasion,  and  have  just 
reason  to  claim  a  large  share  in  the  honors  that  are  due  the 
whole  army  for  the  glorious  victory  terminating  at  Corinth  yes 
terday,  and  it  aifords  him  great  pleasure  to  bear  full  testimony  to 
the  qualities  of  his  command  that  have  achieved  this  victory — a 
victory  none  the  less  decisive  because  attended  with  comparatively 
little  loss  of  life. 

But  a  few  days  ago  a  large  and  powerful  rebel  army  lay  at 
Corinth,  with  outposts  extending  to  our  very  camp  at  Shiloh. 
They  held  two  railroads  extending  north  and  south,  east  and  west 
across  the  whole  extent  of  their  country,  with  a  vast  number  of 
locomotives  and  cars  to  bring  to  thorn  speedily  and  certainly 
their  reinforcements  and  supplies.  They  called  to  their  aid  all 
their  armies  from  every  quarter,  abandoning  the  sea  coast  and 
the  great  river  Mississippi,  that  they  might  overwhelm  us  with 
numbers  in  the  place  of  their  own  choosing.  They  had  chosen 
leaders — men  of  high  reputation  and  courage,  and  they  dared  us 
to  leave  the  cover  of  our  iron-clad  gunboats  to  conie  to  fight  them 
in  their  trenches,  and  still  more  dangerous  swamps  and  ambus 
cades  of  their  southern  forests.  Their  whole  country,  from 
Richmond  to  Memphis,  and  Nashville  to  Mobile,  rung  with  their 
taunts  and  boastings,  as  to  how  they  would  immolate  the  Yankees 
if  they  dared  leave  the  Tennessee  River.  They  boldly  and  defi 
antly  challenged  us  to  meet  them  at  Corinth.  We  accepted  the 
challenge,  and  came  slowly,  and  without  concealment,  to  the  very 
ground  of  their  selection  ;  and  they  have  fled  away.  We  yester 
day  marched,  unopposed,  through  the  burning  embers  of  their 
destroyed  camps  and  property,  and  pursued  them  to  their  swamps, 
until  burning  bridges  plainly  confessed  that  they  had  fled  and  not 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  101 

marched  away  for  better  ground.  It  is  a  victory  as  brilliant  and 
important  as  any  recorded  in  history,  and  every  officer  and  sol 
dier  who  lent  his  aid  has  just  reason  to  be  proud  of  his  part. 

No  amount  of  sophistry  or  words  from  the  lea,dei  s  cf  the. rebel-" 
lion  can  succeed  in  giving  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  under  the 
circumstances,  any  other  title  than  that  of  a  signal  defeat,  more 
humiliating  to  them  and  their  cause  than  if  we  had  entered  the 
place  over  the  dead  and  mangled  bodies  of  their  soldiers.  We 
are  not  here  to  kill  and  slay,  but  to  vindicate  the  honor  and  just 
authority  of  that  government  which  has  been  bequeathed  to  us  by 
our  honored  fathers,  and  to  whom  we  would  be  recreant  if  we 
permitted  their  work  to  pass  to  our  children,  marred  and  spoiled 
by  ambitious  rebels. 

The  general  commanding,  while  thus  claiming  for  his  division 
their  just  share  in  this  glorious  result,  must,  at  the  same  time, 
remind  them  that  much  yet  remains  to  be  done,  and  that  all  must 
still  continue  the  same  vigilance  and  patience,  industry  and  obe 
dience,  till  the  enemy  lays  down  his  arms  and  publicly  acknowl 
edges,  for  their  supposed  grievances,  that  they  must  obey  the  laws 
of  their  country,  and  not  attempt  its  overthrow  by  threats,  by 
cruelty,  and  by  war.  They  must  be  made  to  feel  and  acknow 
ledge  the  power  of  a  just  and  mighty  nation.  This  result  can 
only  be  accomplished  by  a  cheerful  and  ready  obedience  to  the 
orders  and  authority  of  our  leaders,  in  whom  we  now  have  just 
reason  to  feel  the  most  implicit  confidence.  That  the  Fifth  divi 
sion  of  the  right  wing  will  do  this,  and  that  in  due  time  we  will 
go  to  our  families  and  friends  at  home,  is  the  earnest  prayer  and 
wish  of  your  immediate  commander. 

W.  T    SHERMAN,  Major  General. 

J.  H.  HAMMOND,  A.  A.  G.,  Chief  of  Staff. 

INCIDENTS    CONNECTED  WITH   THE    SIEGE   OF   CORINTH. 

When  the  Federal  lines  advanced  on  the  28th 
of  April,  a  battery  was  planted  on  an  eminence 


102  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

commanding  a  considerable  portion  of  the  country, 
but  completely  shrouded  by  a  dense  thicket. 
.  Spouts  were  sent  out  to  discover  the  exact  position 
or  the  rebels,  and  were  but  a  short  distance  in 
advance,  to  give  a  signal  as  to  the  direction  to  fire, 
if  any  were  discovered. 

One  of  the  rebel  commanders,  unaware  of  their 
presence,  called  around  him  a  rebel  brigade,  and 
commenced  addressing  them  in  something  like  the 
following  strain  : 

"  SONS  OF  THE  SOUTH — We  are  here  to  defend  our  homes,  our 
wives  and  daughters,  against  the  horde  of  vandals  who  have 
come  here  to  possess  the  first  and  violate  the  last.  Here,  upon 
this  sacred  soil,  we  have  assembled  to  drive  back  the  Northern 
invaders — drive  them  into  the  Tennessee.  Will  you  follow  me  ? 
If  we  cannot  hold  this  place,  we  can  defend  no  spot  of  our  Con 
federacy.  Shall  we  strike  the  invaders  back,  and  strike  to  death 
the  men  who  would  desecrate  our  homes  ?  Is  there  a  man  so 
base  among  those  who  hear  me  as  to  retreat  from  the  contemp 
tible  foe  before  us  ?  I  will  never  blanch  before  their  fire,  nor 

At  this  interesting  period  the  signal  was  given, 
and  six  shells  fell  in  the  vicinity  of  the  gallant 
officer  and  his  men,  who  suddenly  forgot  their 
fiery  resolves,  and  fled  in  confusion  to  their  breast 
works. 

THE    EAGLE    OF    CORINTH. 

"  The  finest  thing  I  ever  saw,"  said  Mr.  Howe, 
"  was  a  live  American  eagle,  carried  by  the  Eighth 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  103 

Wisconsin  in  the  place  of  a  flag.  It  would  fly  over 
the  enemy  during  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  then 
would  return  and  seat  himself  upon  his  pole,  clap 
his  pinions,  shake  his  head  arid  start  again.  Many 
and  hearty  were  the  cheers  that  arose  from  our 
lines  as  the  old  fellow  would  sail  around,  first  to  the 
right,  then  to  the  left,  and  always  return  to  his 
post,  regardless  of  the  storm  of  leaden  hail  that 
was  around  him.  Something  seemed  to  tell  us 
that  the  battle  was  to  result  in  our  favor,  and  when 
the  order  was  given  to  charge,  every  man  went  at 
them  with  fixed  bayonets,  and  the  enemy  scattered 
in  all  directions,  leaving  us  in  possession  of  the 
battle-field."  * 

The  incident  just  narrated  awoke  the  harp  of 
the  poet,  who  thus  sang : 

Did  you  hear  of  the  fight  at  Corinth, 

How  we  whipped  out  Price  and  Van  Dorn  ! 

Ah  !  that  day  we  earned  our  rations — 

(Our  cause  was  God's  and  the  Nation's, 
Or  we'd  have  come  out  forlorn!) 

A  long  and  a  terrible  day  ! 

And,  at  last,  when  night  grew  gray, 

By  the  hundred  there  they  lay, 

(Heavy  sleepers,  you'd  say) 

That  wouldn't  wake  on  the  morn. 


*  Letter  from  Chester  D.  Howe,  Company  E,  Twelfth  Illinois 
Volunteers. 

• 


104  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Our  staff  was  bare  of  a  flag, 
We  didn't  carry  a  rag 

In  those  brave  marching  days— 
Ah  !  no  ;  but  a  finer  thing  ! 
With  never  a  cord  or  string, 
An  eagle,  of  ruffled  wing, 

And  an  eye  of  awful  gaze ! 

The  grape  it  rattled  like  hail, 

The  minies  were  dropping  like  rain, 

The  first  of  a  thunder  shower — 

The  wads  were  blowing  like  chaff, 
(There  was  pounding,  like  floor  and  flail, 

All  the  front  of  our  line  ! ) 
So  we  stood  it,  hour  after  hour — 
But  our  eagle  he  felt  fine  ! 
'Twould  have  made  you  cheer  and  laugh 
To  see,  through  that  iron  gale, 

How  the  old  fellow'd  swoop  and  sail 
Above  the  racket  and  roar — 
To  right  and  to  left  he'd  soar, 

But  ever  came  back,  without  fail, 

And  perched  on  his  standard  staff. 

All  that  day,  I  tell  you  true, 

They  had  pressed  us  steady  and  fair, 
*         *         *         *         *         *         * 

But  our  cross-fire  stunned  them  in  flank, 
They  melted,  rank  after  rank — 
(O'er  them,  with  terrible  poise, 

Our  bird  did  circle  and  wheel! ) 

Their  whole  line  began  to  waver- 
Now  for  the  bayonet,  boys  ! 

On  them  with  the  cold  steel ! 


AND    HIS    CAAii'AiuXS.  10f~> 

Ah  !  well,  you  know  how  it  ended — • 

We  did  for  them,  there  and  then, 
But  their  pluck,  throughout,  was  splendid, 

They  stood,  to  the  last,  like  men ; 
Only  a  handful  of  them 

Found  the  way  back  again. 

Red  as  blood,  o'er  the  towc,, 

The  angry  sun  went  down, 

Firing  flag-staff  and  vane — 
And  our  eagle,  as  for  him, 
There,  all  ruffled  and  grim, 

He  sat,  o'erlooking  the  slain.  H.   H.  B. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  Holly  Springs,  on  the  rail 
road  from  Jackson,  Tenn.,  to  New  Orleans,  was 
taken  possession  of  by  General  Sherman's  forces, 
who  destroyed  the  bridge  and  several  pieces  of 
trestle  work  on  the  Mississippi  Central  Railroad,  in 
order  to  prevent  surprise  by  the  rebels.  Previous 
to  the  evacuation  of  the  place,  the  enemy  had 
removed  their  machinery  for  the  repairing  and 
making  of  arms  to  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Memphis,  which  surrendered  soon  after  the 
evacuation  of  Corinth,  was  at  once  occupied  by 
the  Union  troops.  General  Grant  appointed  Sher 
man  to  the  command  of  that  city,  and  on  the  21st 
of  July  he  took  the  post  of  military  commander 
of  Memphis.  He  ordered  the  most  urgent  meas 
ures  to  be  adopted  against  all  guerrillas,  and  soon 
put  a  stop  to  the  contraband  trade  which  was  carried 
on  in  that  city. 


106 

On  the  28th  of  July,  by  orders  from  General 
Grant,  lie  took  possession  of  all  unoccupied  build 
ings,  stores  and  manufactories  within  the  city  of 
Memphis,  and  collected  the  rents  of  such  property 
for  the  United  States  Government. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

SHERMAN  AND  THE  CAMPAIGNS  AGAINST  VICKSBURG. 

PREPARATIONS    FOR    THE    VICKSBURG   CAMPAIGN SHER 
MAN'S  COMMAND  SAILS  FOR  VICKSBURG ARRIVAL   AT 

JOHNSTON'S  LANDING  —  FIRST  ASSAULT  UPON  VICKS 
BURG MCCLERNAND  TAKES  COMMAND  —  SHERMAN'S 

CONGRATULATORY     ORDER    TO     HIS    TROOPS CAPTURE 

OF  ARKANSAS    POST STEELE'S    BAYOU    EXPEDITION  — 

FEINT  ON  THE  NORTH  OF  VICKSBURG FIGHT  AT  FOUR 
TEEN  MILE  CREEK ADVANCE  UPON  JACKSON OCCU 
PATION  OF  THE  CITY BATTLE  OF  BIG  BLACK  RIVER  — 

TAKES  POSSESSION  OF  WALNUT  HILLS SECOND  ASSAULT 

UPON  VICKSBURG SURRENDER OCCUPATION PUR 
SUIT  AFTER  JOHNSTON SECOND  OCCUPATION  OF  JACK 
SON RECOMMENDED  BY  GENERAL  GRANT  FOR  PROMO 

TION   AS    BRIGADIER    GENERAL    OF    REGULAR   ARMY. 

During  the  autumn  of  1862,  General  Sherman, 
who  had  been  placed  in  command  of  the  Fifteenth 
Army  Corps,  consisting  of  four  divisions,  and  known 
as  the  "  Eight  Wing  of  the  Army  of  the  Ten 
nessee,"  began  to  make  preparations  for  the 
Yicksburg  campaign. 

On  the  28th  of  November,  the  advance  of  the 
army  was  made  by  the  Jackson  and  Grand  Junction 
Railroad,  and  proceeded  steadily  on  their  march 


108  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

until  the  surrender  of  Holly  Springs,  December 
20th,  when  Grant  was  compelled  to  fall  back  to 
preserve  his  line  of  communication.  The  plan  was 
for  Grant  to  threaten  an  attack  by  way  of  Jackson, 
while  Sherman  assaulted  the  defences  of  Walnut 
Hill,  by  way  of  the  Yazoo  River. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  General  Sherman 
embarked  his  forces  at  Memphis.  The  fleet  con 
sisted  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  steamers, 
besides  gun-boats.  General  Sherman  and  staff 
arrived  on  the  "Forest  Queen"  at  Friar's  Point 
on  the  following  day. 

General  Sherman  was  entirely  unaware  that 
Grant  had  retraced  his  steps  from  Oxford  to  Holly 
Springs,  and  as  Grant  had  intended  moving  upon 
Jackson  by  the  railroad,  and  thence  to  Yicksburg, 
a  combination  of  the  forces  under  Grant  and 
Sherman  was  needed  to  secure  success. 

General  Sherman  proceeded  with  a  part  of  his 
expedition,  and  landed  a  small  force,  under  Gen 
eral  M.  L.  Smith,  at  Milliken's  Bend.  They  pro 
ceeded  to  Delhi  and  Dallas,  on  the  Yicksburg  and 
Texas  Railroad,  destroyed  the  depots  and  part  of 
the  track,  cutting  off  the  retreat  of  the  rebels  from 
Yicksburg. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  the  troops  under  Sher 
man  arrived  at  Johnston's  Landing,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Yazoo  River,  and  prepared  for  an  assault 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS  109 

upon  the  northern  works  that  defended  the  city  of 
Vicksburg. 

From  Johnston's  Landing,  Vicksburg  is  pecu 
liarly  situated,  being  a  hill,  with  a  line  of  hills  sur 
rounding  it  at  a  distance  of  several  miles,  and 
extending  from  Haines'  Bluff,  on  the  Yazoo  Elver, 
to  Warrentown,  ten  miles  beyond  the  city,  on  the 
Mississippi  Elver.  The  low  country  in  the  vicinity 
is  swampy,  filled  with  sloughs,  bayous  and  lagoons. 
To  approach  Vicksburg  with  a  large  force  by  this 
route,  even  in  times  of  peace,  would  be  a  matter 
of  great  difficulty,  and  with  an  enemy  in  front,  it 
was  almost  an  impossibility. 

On  the  27th  of  December,  the  troops  formed  in 
line  of  battle,  and  prepared  to  assault  the  enemy's 
works.  By  night  they  had  succeeded  in  driving 
the  rebels  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  their 
former  position. 

On  the  following  day  the  Union  troops  showed 
great  bravery,  but  Grant's  forces  failing  to  arrive, 
as  Sherman  had  confidently  expected,  entirely  dis 
arranged  the  plan  of  battle.  Owing  to  the  rein 
forcement  of  the  enemy  by  the  troops  that  had  fied 
before  Grant's  advance,  they  were  well  prepared  to 
resist  Sherman's  men,  and  the  rebels  refused  to 
come  from  behind  their  works,  employing  the  time 
during  the  night  in  throwing  up  earthworks  in 
every  direction.  Sherman's  small  force  had  much 


110  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

to  contend  against,  the  woods  being  filled  with. 
sharp-shooters,  the  position  of  the  enemy  being 
made  doubly  strong  by  nature  and  art,  and  the 
rebels  outnumbering  them. 

On  Monday,  the  29th,  our  troops  made  several 
charges  on  the  enemy's  works,  but  all  to  no  use, 
and  the  men  fell  back.  General  Blair's  brigade, 
headed  by  himself,  on  foot,  particularly  distin 
guished  itself,  and  of  the  eight  hundred  and 
twenty-five  men  engaged  in  this  assault,  six  hun 
dred  and  forty-two  were  killed,  wounded  and 
captured. 

After  the  burial  of  the  dead  and  removal  of  the 
wounded,  Sherman  gave  orders  for  his  troops  to 
reembark. 

On  the  1st  of  January  General  McClernand 
arrived,  and  as  he  ranked  General  Sherman  by 
over  a  month  in  the  date  of  his  commission,  he 
assumed  command,  and  ordered  the  troops  to 
withdraw  from  the  Yazoo  River  and  return  to  the 
Mississippi  River.  The  title  of  the  army  was 
changed  by  General  McClernand,  and  General 
Sherman  issued  the  following  order  : 


EE,  j 


HEAD-QUARTERS,  EIGHT  WING  ARMY  OF  TENNESSEE, 
STEAMER  FOREST  QUEEN, 

MILLIKEN'S  BEND,  January  4,  1863 

GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  5. 

Pursuant  to  the  terms  of  General  Orders  No.  1,  made  this  day 
by  General  McClernand,  the  title  of  our  army  ceases  to  exist,  and 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  Ill 

constitutes  in  the  future  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi,  composed 
of  two  "army  corps,"  one  to  be  commanded  by  General  G.  W. 
Morgan,  and  the  other  by  myself.  In  relinquishing  the  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  restricting  my  authority  to 
my  own  corps,  I  desire  to  express  to  all  commanders,  to  soldiers 
and  officers  recently  operating  before  Vicksburg,  my  hearty 
thanks  for  the  zeal,  alacrity  and  courage  manifested  by  them  on 
all  occasions.  We  failed  in  accomplishing  one  purpose  of  our 
movement — the  capture  of  Vicksburg — but  we  were  part  of  a 
whole.  Ours  was  but  a  part  of  a  combined  movement,  in  which 
others  were  to  assist.  We  were  on  time  ;  unforeseen  contingencies 
must  have  delayed  the  others.  We  have  destroyed  the  Shreve- 
port  Road ;  we  have  attacked  the  defences  of  Vicksburg,  and 
pushed  the  attack  as  far  as  prudence  would  justify  ;  and  having 
found  it  too  strong  for  our  single  column,  we  have  drawn  off  in 
good  order  and  good  spirits,  ready  for  any  new  move.  A  new 
commander  is  now  here  to  lead  you.  He  is  chosen  by  the  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States,  who  is  charged  by  the  Constitution  to 
maintain  and  defend  it,  and  he  has  the  undoubted  right  to  select 
his  own  agents.  I  know  that  all  good  officers  and  soldiers  will 
give  him  the  same  hearty  support  and  cheerful  obedience  they 
have  hitherto  given  me.  There  are  honors  enough  in  reserve  for 
all,  and  work  enough  too.  Let  each  do  his  appropriate  part,  and 
our  nation  must  in  the  end  emerge  from  this  dire  conflict  purified 
and  ennobled  by  the  fires  which  now  test  its  strength  and  purity. 
All  officers  of  the  general  staff  now  attached  to  my  person  will 
hereafter  report  in  person  and  by  letter  to  Major  General  McCler- 
nand,  comraandiag  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi,  on  board  the 
steamer  Tigress,  at  our  rendezvous  at  Games'  Landing,  and  at 
Montgomery  Point. 

By  order  of  Major  General  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 

J.  H.  HAMMOND,  A.  A.  G. 

General  Sherman  had  with  Admiral  Porter  de 
vised  a  plan  for  the  capture  of  Arkansas  Post,  on 


112  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

the  Arkansas  River.  Sherman  was  prevented  from 
assuming  the  chief  command  of  the  military  por 
tion  of  this  expedition  —  McClernand  having  ar 
rived  —  but  to  Sherman  was  due  the  planning  and 
carrying  out  of  the  attack. 

The  Thirteenth  and  Fifteenth  corps  left  the 
Yazoo  River,  and  passed  up  the  Mississippi  River 
to  Montgomery  Point,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the 
White  River.  On  the  9th  of  January,  1863,  the 
iron-clads  and  transports  moved  up  the  White 
River,  and  after  ascending  that  stream  for  fifteen 
miles,  the  fleet  passed  through  a  cut-off  to  the 
left,  into  the  Arkansas  River. 

From  General  McClernand's  and  General  IIo- 
vey's  official  reports  we  learn  that  the  former 
assumed  the  command  of  the  Thirteenth  and 
Fifteenth  army  corps,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1863, 
after  they  had  retired  from  Yickshurg.  McCler 
nand  sailed  with  them,  for  the  purpose  of  reducing 
Fort  Hindman,  which  had  been  laboriously  and 
skilfully  enlarged  and  strengthened,  since  the  com 
mencement  of  the  rebellion ;  it  formed  the  key  to 
Little  Rock,  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Arkansas, 
and  the  extensive  and  valuable  country  drained  by 
the  Arkansas  River,  from  which  hostile  detach 
ments  were  constantly  sent  to  obstruct  the  navi 
gation  of  the  Mississippi  River  and  thereby  our 
communications. 


AND    HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  113 

The  forces  landed  at  ^Nbtril's  farm,  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  river,  three  miles  below  the  for;;,  at 
five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  on  the  9th  of  January,  and 
the  work  of  disembarking  was  busily  continued 
until  noon  the  next  day,  when  it  was  completed. 

On  the  10th  instant,  the  enemy  abandoned  a  line 
of  rifle-pits  about  half  a  mile  above  the  levee, 
under  stress  of  fire  of  one  of  the  gunboats. 

General  McClernand  communicated  with  Gen 
eral  Sherman,  and  suggested  to  him  the  eligibility 
of  the  river-road,  from  which  he  might  diverge  at 
or  near  the  levee,  in  making  a  detour  for  the  pur 
pose  of  investigating  the  upper  side  of  the  fort. 
His  column  was  put  in  motion  at  eleven  o'clock 
A.  M.,  but  diverging  below  that  point,  the  head  of 
it,  consisting  of  General  Hovey's  brigade  of  Gen 
eral  Steele's  division,  after  meeting  and  dispersing  a 
strong  picket  of  the  enemy,  soon  encountered  a 
swamp,  about  a  fourth  of  a  mile  wide.  Passing  this 
swamp  with  much  difiiculty,  the  brigade  rested 
upon  an  open  space  called  "  Little  Prairie."  Several 
small  squads  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  hovered  in  their 
advance  and  were  captured.  About  two  o'clock 
the  column  was  ordered  to  return  to  the  landing, 
where  it  arrived  just  before  dark,  and  bivouacked 
for  the  night. 

Hardly  had  the  camp-fires  been  lighted,  when 
orders  were  received  to  move  immediately  by 


114  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEBMAN, 

another  route  and  by  a  night-march  to  their  original 
destination.  Over  marshy  ground,  thickly  covered 
with  wood,  without  a  guide  and  with  the  only  di 
rection,  "  to  take  a  north-westerly  course,"  they 
set  out.  Fortunately  the  North  Star  was  in  full 
view,  and  by  its  aid  they  were  enabled  to  reach  the 
point  indicated,  after  a  fatiguing  march  of  more 
than  eight  miles.  It  was  after  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning  when  they  reached  the  deserted  camps 
of  the  enemy. 

By  half  past  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  two  corps 
were  in  position,  and  were  ready  to  commence  the 
attack.  General  Steele's  division  formed  the  ex 
treme  right  of  the  line  of  battle,  and  General 
Stuart's,  and  General  A.  J.  Smith's  divisions  were 
formed  on  its  left. 

Port  Arkansas,  a  small  village,  the  county  seat 
of  Arkansas  county,  is  situated  on  elevated  ground 
above  the  reach  of  floods,  and  defining  for  some 
miles,  the  left  bank  of  the  river. 

Fort  Hindman,  a  square,  full-bastioned  fort, 
is  erected  within  this  village,  upon  the  bank  of 
the  river,  at  the  head  of  a  bend  resembling:  a 

>  o 

horse-shoe. 

At  one  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  gun-boats  opened  fire, 
immediately  followed  by  artillery.  By  half  past 
one  o'clock  Hovey's  and  Thayer's  brigades,  and 
Giles  A.  Smith's  and  T.  K.  Smith's  brigades 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  115 

of  General  Sherman's  corps,  had  crossed  in  double 
quick  time,  a  narrow  space  of  cleared  ground,  in 
their  front,  and  gained  position  in  a  belt  of  woods 
extending  irregularly  some  three  hundred  yards, 
quite  to  the  enemy's  rifle-pits;  checked  here,  for  a 
time,  by  a  sudden  and  severe  fire  of  musketry  and 
artillery  from  the  cover  of  the  enemy's  works,  they 
boldly  resumed  and  continued  their  advance,  sup 
ported  by  Blair's  brigade,  as  a  reserve,  until  they 
had  approached  within  short  musket-range  of  the 
enemy's  line,  and  found  shelter  in  some  ravines 
lined  by  underbrush  and  fallen  timber. 

In  executing  this  movement  General  Hovey  was 
wounded  by  a  shell,  but  continued  upon  the  field 
in  the  gallant  discharge  of  duty.  . 

At  half  past  four  o'clock,  after  three  hours  and 
a  half  hard  fighting,  the  Union  forces  entered  and 
took  possession  of  all  the  enemy's  defences,  Gen 
eral  Churchill  having  surrendered  the  post,  its 
armament,  garrison,  and  all  its  stores  to  General 
Me  demand. 

During  the  early  part  of  1863,  Sherman  took  a 
very  important  part  in  one  of  the  expeditions  sent 
out  by  General  Grant  for  the  purpose  of  drawing 
off  the  enemy's  attention  from  the  main  operations. 

On  the  16th  of  March,  1863,  General  Grant 
ordered  General  Stuart  to  prepare  the  infantry  of 
his  division  —  the  Second  division  of  the  Fifteenth 


116 

Army  Corps — to  move  at  daylight  the  next  mor 
ning.  Leaving  everything,  except  ammunition, 
arms,  and  rations,  they  embarked  and  proceeded 
up  the  Mississippi  to  Eagle  Bend.  Admiral  Porter 
and  General  Grant  had  made  a  personal  recon- 
noissance  of  a  proposed  route  to  the  Yazoo  above 
Haines'  Bluff,  a  few  days  previous,  and  General 
Sherman  was  ordered  to  take  charge  of  the  open 
ing  of  the  route.  General  Sherman  left  at  once 
with  the  pioneer  corps  of  Stuart's  division  and  the 
Eighth  Missouri.  General  Grant  received  dis 
patches  in  the  evening  from  Admiral  Porter,  an 
nouncing  that  his  gunboats  were  meeting  with  great 
success,  and  requested  that  the  land  force  be  sent 
at  once,  and  General  Stuart  was  ordered  to  imme 
diately  proceed  with  his  division.  The  distance 
by  land  from  the  Mississippi,  along  the  Muddy 
Bayou,  is  about  one  mile.  And  the  infantry  were 
ordered  to  cross  by  this  route  to  Steele's  Bayou,  it 
being  impossible  to  take  anything  but  small  steam 
ers  through  the  bayou.  On  reaching  Eagle  Bend, 
it  was  ascertained  that  two  long  bridges  were  neces 
sary  to  the  movement  of  troops,  and  the  building 
of  these  occupied  a  day  and  a  half.  When  com 
pleted,  the  division  marched  across  Steele's  Bayou, 
and  a  part  of  the  First  brigade  embarked  on  the 
Silver  "Wave,  and  started  up  through  the  wilderness 
of  forest  and  water. 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  117 

Three  streams,  Steele's  Bayou,  Deer  Creek,  and 
the  Sunflower,  traverse  the  country  north  of  the 
Yazoo,  for  fifty  miles,  between  the  Mississippi  and 
the  line  of  railway  from  Memphis  to  Jackson, 
emptying  into  the  Yazoo.  Their  course  is  very 
tortuous,  like  the  streams  in  the  wild  marshes. 

The  fleet  going  up  the  Yazoo  River  seven  miles, 
thence  up  Steele's  Bayou  twelve  miles,  came  to 
Muddy  Bayou,  which  runs  across  from  the  Missis 
sippi  into  Steele's.  The  troops  came  over  on  floating 
bridges,  and  embarked  at  this  point,  and  from  here 
were  transported  up  Steele's  and  Black  Bayou  about 
twenty  miles  to  Hill's  plantation,  and  marched 
thence  twenty-one  miles  on  a  levee  north  along 
Deer  Creek,  nearly  to  Rolling  Fork.  It  was  pro 
posed  to  proceed  on  that  creek  a  distance  of  seven 
miles,  until  the  Sunflower  was  reached.  Once  upon 
that  stream,  they  could  reach  the  Yazoo,  between 
Haines'  Bluff  and  Yazoo  City,  and  would  be  in  a 
position  to  operate  against  the  enemy  at  various 
points  with  great  effect. 

After  a  reconnoissance  far  enough  to  learn  that 
gunboats  could  pass  from  the  Yazoo  into  Steele's 
Bayou,  Admiral  Porter  moved  up  the  Bay,  and 
General  Sherman  with  a  division  of  his  army  corps 
formed  the  land  force.  This  was  on  the  15th,  and 
before  night  on  the  16th,  the  advance  of  the  gun 
boats  and  land  force  were  at  Muddy  Bayou.  They 


118 

arrived  at  Eagle  Bend  on  the  17th.  The  18th, 
and  until  noon  of  the  following  day,  the  men 
were  employed  in  building  the  two  bridges  before 
referred  to,  and  the  troops  were  speedily  trans 
ported  to  the  place  of  rendezvous.  They  passed 
up  the  Black  Bayou  into  Deer  Creek,  without  any 
obstruction  from  the  enemy  until  the  20th,  when 
the  rebels  commenced  annoying  them  with  sharp 
shooters,  and  by  felling  trees  in  the  creeks.  They 
could  proceed  no  further  that  night,  and  in  the 
morning,  they  found  considerable  obstruction  in 
the  river,  and  an  enemy,  some  600  strong,  with  a 
field  battery  of  rifles,  disputing  his  passage.  They 
were  kept  busy  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  making 
but  half  a  mile  progress. 

The  Admiral  sent  a  dispatch  back  to  General 
Sherman,  stating  the  condition  of  affairs,  and  a 
force  was  immediately  sent  to  the  relief  of  the 
gunboats.  They  made  a  forced  march,  skirmishing 
a  part  of  the  way,  and  arrived  on  the  evening  of 
the  22d,  a  distance  of  twenty-one  miles,  over  a 
terrible  road.  The  enemy  had  been  largely  reen- 
forced  during  the  day,  and  now  numbered  some 
5,000  men.  The  boats  were  surrounded  with  rebels, 
who  had  cut  down  trees  before  and  behind  them, 
were  moving  up  artillery,  and  making  every  exer 
tion  to  cut  off  retreat  and  capture  our  boats.  For 
a  mile  and  a  half,  the  creek  was  full  of  obstructions. 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS,  119 

Heavy  batteries  were  on  its  bank,  supported  by  a 
large  force,  and  to  advance  was  impossible ;  to  re 
treat  seemed  almost  hopeless.  The  second  night 
was  passed  on  board  the  ship  without  sleep. 
The  infantry  had  marched  twenty-one  miles  with 
out  rest,  but  they,  with  their  energetic  leader,  kept 
a  successful  watch  of  the  boats  and  their  valuable 
artillery. 

At  seven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  22nd, 
General  Sherman  received  a  dispatch  from  Admiral 
Porter,  stating  his  perilous  condition,  and  he  at 
once  marched  with  his  Second  brigade,  and  a 
part  of  the  First.  About  midday  tbe  enemy 
commenced  moving  upon  the  Union  troops,  with 
the  purpose  of  reaching  the  bank  of  the  creek  be 
low  the  gunboats  and  below  the  infantry.  General 
Sherman  was  some  six  miles  distant.  The  rebels 
had  advanced  with  about  4,000  men,  and  came 
down  with  the  intention  of  turning  his  right  and 
reaching  the  creek  below.  The  gunboats  opened 
fire  upon  them,  which  embarrassed  their  move 
ments  and  considerably  retarded  them.  They 
debouched  through  the  wood  and  became  engaged 
with  the  skirmishers.  The  fight  was  beginning  to 
be  in  good  earnest,  but  the  enemy  were  gaining 
ground.  The  object  was  to  pass  our  forces,  and 
not  a  battle.  As  soon  as  General  Sherman  heard 
the  first  firing  of  the  gunboats,  he  urged  his  men 


120  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEIIMAN, 

forward,  and  after  an  hour's  hard  fighting,  the  ad 
vance  came  upon  a  body  of  the  enemy  who  had 
passed  by  the  force  which  had  been  engaged. 
Our  troops  immediately  opened  fire  upon  them, 
and  the  enemy  after  fighting  for  a  short  time  gave 
way.  They  were  driven  back  some  two  miles,  and 
the  gunboats  opened  upon  them  thus  hemmed  in, 
and  the  day  was  ours.  The  enemy  retreated,  and 
the  gunboats  were  saved.  Further  advance  being 
deemed  impracticable,  the  boats  at  once  com 
menced  moving  backward,  and  made  several  miles 
that  evening. 

The  rebels  next  endeavored  to  pass  around  our 
lines  in  the  afternoon  and  night,  and  bring  their 
whole  force  still  further  below,  but  they  found 
General  Stuart's  forces  in  their  way,  and  abandoned 
the  attempt  to  cut  off  the  gunboats  for  that  day. 
During  the  night  and  the  afternoon  of  the  next 
day,  skirmishing  ensued,  and  the  troops  who  were 
now  at  Hill's  plantation,  waited  for  the  rebels  to 
appear  ;  but  they  refused  to  give  or  receive  battle, 
and  our  men  embarked  on  transports  and  gunboats 
and  returned  to  Miliken's  Bend. 

The  following  we  copy  from  an  account  given 
by  an  eye-witness : 

"  Black  Bayou,  a  narrow  stream,  heretofore, 
only  navigated  by  dug-outs,  was  made  the  width 
of  our  steamers,  with  great  labor  of  felling  trees 


AND    HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  121 

and  sawing  stumps  below  the  surface.  Every  foot 
of  our  way  was  cut  and  torn  through  a  dense 
forest,  never  before  traversed  by  steamers.  I  never 
witnessed  a  more  exciting  and  picturesque  scene 
than  the  transportation,  on  the  last  day,  of  the 
Third  brigade,  by  General  Stuart.  Crowded  with 
men,  the  steamer,  at  the  highest  possible  speed, 
pushed  through  overhanging  trees,  and  short  round 
curves.  Sometimes  wedged  fast  between  trees, 
then  sailing  smoothly  along,  a  huge  cypress  would 
reach  out  an  arm  and  sweep  the  whole  length  of 
the  boats,  tearing  guards  and  chimneys  from  the 
decks.  The  last  trip  through  the  Black  Bayou  was 
in  a  night  pitchy  dark  and  rainy. 

"While  the  adventure  was  of  uncertain  sue 
cess  —  when  the  result  seemed  almost  accom 
plished,  and  wrhen  our  gunboats  were  surrounded 
with  an  enemy  confident  of  victory,  and  their 
extrication  seemed  almost  an  impossibility — offi 
cers  and  men  worked  with  equal  alacrity,  whether 
in  building  bridges  or  making  forced  marches, 
both  by  day  and  night.  The  whole  time  was  used 
in  labor  —  constant  and  severe.  It  seems  almost 
a  miracle  that  the  boats  were  saved.  If  Generals 
Sherman  and  Stuart,  by  their  utmost  exertions  and 
labors,  had  forwarded  their  troops  a  single  half  day 
later,  if  the  second  forced  march  under  General 
Sherman  had  been  retarded  a  single  hour,  in  all 


122  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

human  probability  the  whole  force  would  have 
been  lost." 

The  advance  upon  Yicksburg  by  the  Louisiana 
shore  commenced  shortly  after  this  expedition. 

In  order  to  deceive  the  rebels  as  to  the  precise 
direction  from  which  he  proposed  to  attack  Vicks- 
burg,  and  to  prevent  reinforcements  from  being 
sent  from  Grand  Gulf  to  that  place,  General  Grant 
ordered  some  excellent  feints  to  be  made  in  all 
directions.  One  of  these,  made  on  the  north,  was 
conducted  by  General  Sherman.  His  corps  in 
moving  from  Milliken's  Bend,  had  been  set  apart 
to  bring  up  the  rear — so  that  it  was  the  last  to 
start  upon  the  southern  march.  General  Sherman 
had  made  every  preparation  to  move  by  April 
26th,  1863,  but  receiving  a  letter  from  General 
Grant  with  orders  to  delay  his  march,  he  remained 
at  Milliken's  Bend,  until  the  29th. 

On  the  28th  General  Sherman  received  a  letter 
in  cypher,  stating  the  time  when  General  Grant 
proposed  to  attack  Grand  Gulf,  and  that  could  a 
feint  be  made  on  the  enemy's  batteries,  near  Haincs' 
Bluff,  on,  the  Yazoo  Eiver,  it  would  be  most  de 
sirable,  provided  it  could  be  done  without  the  ill 
effect  on  the  army  and  country  of  an  appearance 
of  a  repulse.  Accordingly  General  Sherman 
made  the  necessary  orders,  embarked  the  Second 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  123 

division  on  ten  steam  transports,  and  sailed  for 
the  Yazoo  River. 

On  the  morning  of  April  29th,  he  proceeded 
with  this  force  to  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo  River, 
where  he  found  several  vessels  ready  to  cooperate 
with  the  feigned  movement.  The  united  forces  at 
once  proceeded  up  the  river,  and  lay  for  the  night 
of  April  29th,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chickasaw 
Bayou.  At  an  early  hour  the  next  morning,  the  fleet 
passed  up  within  easy  range  of  the  enemy's  batte 
ries.  The  gunboats  immediately  made  an  attack 
upon  the  works,  and  for  four  hours  a  brisk  demon 
stration  was  kept  up.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
time  the  vessels  were  ordered  out  of  range,  and 
toward  evening  General  Sherman  disembarked 
his  troops,  in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  and  made 
preparations  as  if  to  assault  the  works.  The  gun 
boats  reopened  their  fire  upon  the  rebel  defenses 
as  soon  as  the  landing  was  effected. 

It  could  be  distinctly  seen  that  the  enemy  was 
deceived,  as  they  were  making  every  preparation 
to  resist  an  attack.  This  was  the  fulfilment  of  the 
plan,  and  Sherman  and  his  troops  reembarked  dur 
ing  the  night.  Similar  movements  were  made  the 
next  day,  and  also  reconnaissances  of  all  the  coun 
try  on  both  sides  of  the  Yazoo  River. 

Sherman  received  orders  at  this  time  to  rejoin 
Grant  at  Grand  Gulf,  and  ordered  the  two  divisions 


124  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

which  were  at  Milliken's  Bend  to  march  via  Rich 
mond,  Louisiana,  to  a  landing  nearly  opposite  Grand 
Gulf,  while  he  kept  up  the  feint  along  the  Yazoo. 
He  then  went  down  the  river  with  the  remainder 
of  his  troops  to  Young's  Point,  when  the  whole 
corps,  with  the  exception  of  one  division  left  be 
hind  as  a  garrison,  marched  to  Hard  Times,  four 
miles  above  Grand  Gulf,  on  the  Louisiana  shore, 
where  it  arrived  the  6th  of  May,  after  having 
marched  sixty- three  miles.  The  troops  were  im 
mediately  taken  across  the  Mississippi,  and  on  the 
8th  commenced  their  march  into  the  interior. 

The  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  moved  forward  on 
the  Edward's  Station  Road,  and  crossed  the  Four 
teen  Mile  Creek  at  Dillon's  plantation.  Consid 
erable  skirmishing  occurred  while  crossing  the 
creek,  but  the  rebels  gave  way,  and  the  Union 
army  moved  on. 

On  the  12th  of  May,  General  Grant  ordered 
them  to  move  towards  Raymond,  and  on  the  14th, 
the  Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth  Corps  advanced 
upon  Jackson  —  the  march  being  made  during  a 
heavy  storm  of  rain.  The  roads  were  in  a  bad 
condition,  but  notwithstanding  this,  the  troops 
marched  in  excellent  order,  nearly  fourteen  miles, 
and  engaged  the  enemy  about  noon  near  Jackson. 

When  the  movement  was  discovered  by  John 
ston,  who  commanded  the  rebel  forces  >at  Jackson, 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  125 

he  determined  to  delay  the  advance  as  long  as  pos 
sible,  and  meet  them  outside  of  the  city,  that  he 
might  have  an  opportunity  to  remove  the  property 
of  the  rebel  government,  then  at  Jackson.  His 
forces  being  small  in  numbers,  he  ordered  a  feigned 
resistance  to  be  made  against  the  advance  of  the 
Fifteenth  Army  Corps  by  the  turnpike  road,  with 
artillery  and  a  small  portion  of  infantry,  while 
with  the  greater  part  of  his  army,  he  marched  out 
on  the  Clinton  Road,  and  about  two  miles  and  a 
half  from  the  city  engaged  the  Seventeenth  Corps. 

The  skirmishers  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps  drove 
the  rebels  into  their  rifle-pits,  which  had  been 
thrown  up  just  outside  of  the  city.  General  Sher 
man,  by  a  reconnoissance  to  his  right,  soon  discov 
ered  the  weakness  of  the  enemy,  and  this  flank 
movement  caused  an  evacuation  of  the  rebel 
position  on  that  part  of  their  line. 

In  the  meantime  the  Seventeenth  Corps  engaged 
the  main  portion  of  the  enemy's  force  from  Jack 
son,  and  after  a  spirited  contest,  for  more  than 
two  hours,  defeated  them,  the  rebels  retreating 
northward  along  the  Canton  Road. 

After  the  army  had  taken  possession  of  Jackson, 
May  14th,  General  Grant  learned  that  Johnston 
had  ordered  Pemberton  peremptorily  to  move  out 
of  Yicksburg  and  attack  General  Grant's  forces  in 
the  rear.  He  at  once  ordered  General  Blair's 


126  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

division,  of  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  to  move  with 
the  Thirteenth  Corps  toward  Bolton,  with  a 
view  of  marching  upon  Edwards'  Station.  The 
remainder  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps  was  left  at  Jack 
son  to  destroy  everything  that  could  he  used  by  the 
enemy  in  a  hostile  manner.  On  the  following  morn 
ing  General  Grant  ordered  General  Sherman  to 
bring  forward  his  entire  command  at  once,  and  to 
move  with  all  possible  speed  until  he  came  up 
with  the  main  forces  at  Bolton.  The  battle  of 
Champion  Hills,  or  Baker's  Creek,  was  fought  on 
the  16th  by  Hovey's  division  of  McClernand's 
corps,  and  Logan's  and  Quinby's  divisions  (the 
latter  commanded  by  Brigadier  General  M.  M. 
Crocker),  of  McPherson's  corps. 

Orders  were  now  sent  back  to  General  Sherman 
to  turn  his  corps  toward  Bridgeport,  on  the  Black 
River,  some  miles  north  of  the  railroad,  and  to 
General  Blair  to  join  him  at  that  place.  By  cross 
ing  the  river  at  that  point,  General  Sherman  would 
be  on  the  flank  of  the  enemy  if  they  made  a  stand 
at  the  railroad  crossing  of  the  river.  On  the  even 
ing  of  the  17th  he  reached  Bridgeport,  and  by  the 
following  morning  had  crossed  the  river  upon  pon 
toon  bridges,  and  was  ready  to  march  upon  Yicks- 
burg.  The  rebels  having  set  fire  to  the  railroad 
bridge,  Generals  McClernand  and  McPherson 
crossed  their  troops  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  on 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  127 

floating  bridges  made  the  previous  night,  General 
Sherman  having  the  only  pontoon  train  with  him. 

From  General  Grant's  official  report,  we  learn 
that  the  march  was  commenced  by  Sherman  at  an 
early  hour,  hy  the  Bridgeport  and  Vieksburg  Road, 
turning  to  the  idght  when  within  three  miles  and  a 
half  of  Vicktburg,  to  get  possession  of  Walnut 
Hills  and  the  Tazoo  River.  This  was  success 
fully  accomplished  before  the  night  of  the  18th. 
McPherson  crossed  Black  River  above  the  Jackson 
Road,  and  came  into  the  same  road  with  Sherman, 
but  to  his  rear.  He  arrived  after  nightfall  with  his 
advance  to  where  Sherman  turned  to  the  right. 
MeClernand  moved  by  the  Jackson  and  Vieksburg 
Road  to  Mount  Albans,  and  then  turned  to  the 
left  to  get  into  Baldwin's  Ferry  Road.  By  this 
disposition  the  three  army  corps  covered  all  the 
ground  their  strength  would  admit  of,  and  by  the 
morning  of  the  19th  the  investment  of  Vieksburg 
was  made  as  complete  as  could  be  by  the  forces  at 
his  (Grant's)  command. 

During  the  day  there  was  continuous  skirmish 
ing,  and  the  commanding  general  was  not  without 
hopes  of  carrying  the  enemy's  works.  Relying 
upon  the  demoralization  of  the  enemy,  in  conse 
quence  of  repeated  defeats  outside  of  Vieksburg, 
General  Grant  ordered  a  general  assault  at  two 
P.  M. 


128 

The  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  having  arrived  in 
front  of  the  enemy's  works  in  time  on  the  18th 
to  get  a  good  position,  were  enabled  to  make  a 
vigorous  assault.  The  Thirteenth  and  Seventeenth 
Corps  succeeded  no  further  than  to  gain  advanced 
positions,  covered  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy. 
The  two  days  following  were  spent  in  perfecting 
communications  with  our  supplies. 

On  the  21st,  orders  were  issued  for  a  general 
assault  upon  the  whole  line,  to  commence  at  10 
A.  M.  on  the  22d.  All  the  corps  commanders  set 
their  time  by  that  of  the  commanding  general,  that 
there  should  be  no  difference  between  them  in 
movement  of  assault.  Promptly  at  the  hour  desig 
nated  the  three  army  corps  then  in  front  of  the 
enemy's  works  commenced  the  assault.  General 
Grant  took  a  commanding  position  near  McPher- 
son's  front,  and  from  which  he  could  see  all  the 
advancing  columns  from  his  corps,  and  a  portion 
of  each  of  Sherman's  and  McClernand's.  A  por 
tion  of  the  commands  of  each  succeeded  in  plant 
ing  their  flags  on  the  outer  slopes  of  the  enemy's 
bastions,  and  maintained  them  there  until  night. 
Each  corps  had  many  more  men  than  could  pos 
sibly  be  used  in  the  assault,  over  such  ground  as 
intervened  between  them  and  the  enemy.  More 
men  could  only  avail  in  case  of  breaking  through 
the  enemy's  lines,  or  in  repelling  a  sortie.  The 


AND    HlS    CAMPAIGNS.  129 

assault  was  gallant  in  the  extreme  on  the  part  of 
all  the  troops,  but  the  enemy's  position  was  too 
strong,  both  naturally  and  artificially,  to  be  taken 
in  that  way. 

The  assault  of  this  day  proved  the  quality  of  the 
soldiers  of  this  army.  "Without  entire  success,  and 
with  heavy  loss,  there  was  no  murmuring  or  com 
plaining,  no  felling  back,  nor  other  evidence  of 
demoralization. 

From  the  22d  of  May  until  the  25th  of  June  no 
attempt  upon  the  city  of  any  serious  nature  was 
made,  \#th  the  exception  of  the  attack  of  the  gun 
boat  Cincinnati,  for  the  purpose  of  silencing  one 
of  the  land  batteries. 

The  progress  of  the  mining  operations  was  such 
that  a  fort  on  the  right  of  the  Jackson  Road  was 
blown  up  on  the  25th  of  June. 

After  the  failure  of  the  22d,  General  Grant  deter 
mined  upon  a  regular  siege.  The  troops,  now 
being  fully  awake  to  the  necessities  of  this,  worked 
diligently  and  cheerfully.  The  work  progressed 
rapidly  and  satisfactorily  until  the  3d  of  July,  when 
all  was  about  ready  for  a  final  assault. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  3d  of  July  a  letter  was 
received  from  Lieutenant  General  Pemberton,  com 
manding  the  Confederate  forces  at  Vicksburg, 
proposing  an  armistice,  and  the  appointment  of 
commissioners  to  arrange  terms  for  the  capitulation 


130 

of  the  place.  The  correspondence  resulted  in 
the  surrender  of  the  city  and  garrison  of  Yicksburg 
at  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  July  4th,  1863. 

The  rebel  General  Johnston  crossed  the  Big 
Black  River  with  a  portion  of  his  force,  and  every 
thing  indicated  that  he  would  make  an  attack 
about  the  25th  of  June.  The  position  of  the  Union 
army  in  front  of  Yicksburg  having  been  made  as 
strong  against  a  sortie  from  the  enemy  as  his  works 
were  against  an  assault,  General  Sherman  was 
placed  in  command  of  all  troops  designated  to  look 
after  Johnston. 

About  two  weeks  before  the  surrender  of  Yicks 
burg,  Johnston  threatened  the  rear  of  the  besieg 
ing  army  with  a  large  rebel  force.  Grant  at  once 
sent  the  following  message  to  General  Sherman : 
"You  must  whip  Johnston  fifteen  miles  from  here." 
But  Johnston  drew  back  upon  Jackson,  and  Sher 
man  was  notified  to  be  ready  to  march  against  the 
latter  place  on  the  6th  of  July.  Grant,  in  his  offi 
cial  report,  says :  "  I  placed  Major  General  Sherman 
in  command  of  all  the  troops  designated  to  look 
after  Johnston.  Johnston,  however,  not  attacking, 
I  determined  to  attack  him  the  moment  Yicksburg 
was  in  our  possession,  and  accordingly  notified 
Sherman  that  I  would  again  make  an  assault  on 
Yicksburg  at  daylight  of  the  6th,  and  for  him  to 
have  up  supplies  of  all  descriptions  ready  to  move 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  131 

upon  receipt  of  orders,  if  the  assault  should  prove 
a  success.  His  preparations  were  immediately 
made,  and  when  the  place  surrendered  on  the  4th, 
two  days  earlier  than  I  had  fixed  for  the  attack, 
Sherman  was  found  ready,  and  moved  at  once  with 
a  force  increased  hy  the  remainder  of  both  the 
Thirteenth  and  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  and  is 
at  present  (July  6th)  investing  Jackson,  where 
Johnston  has  made  a  stand." 

General  Sherman  was  now  intrusted  with  the 
greater  part  of  Grant's  army,  and  his  movements 
were  made  so  quickly  that  General  Grant  tele 
graphed  to  Washington,  July  12th :  "  General 
Sherman  has  Jackson  invested  from  Pearl  River 
on  the  north  to  the  same  river  on  the  south.  This 
has  cut  off  many  hundred  cars  from  the  Confede 
racy.  Sherman  says  he  has  force  enough,  and 
feels  no  apprehension  about  the  result." 

On  the  llth  of  July,  General  Sherman  sent  out 
a  company  of  cavalry  on  a  foraging  expedition, 
and  during  the  trip  they  ascertained  that  the  exten 
sive  library  belonging  to  Jeff.  Davis  was  secreted 
io  a  house  near  by.  The  cavalry  at  once  proceeded 
to  the  house  and  found  thousands  of  volumes  of 
books  and  several  bushels  of  private  and  political 
papers  belonging  to  the  rebel  President,  written  by 
persons  North  and  South  who  had  been  engaged 
in  the  plot  of  inciting  the  rebellion.  They  also 


132  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

found  many  valuable  gold-headed  walking  canes, 
one  of  them  presented  to  Davis  by  Franklin 
Pierce. 

On  the  12th  of  July,  General  Sherman  sent  a 
battalion  of  cavalry  on  an  expedition  east  of  Jack 
son,  about  fifteen  miles,  in  order  to  destroy  the 
railroad  bridges,  culverts,  rolling  stock,  or  anything 
else  that  would  be  of  use  to  the  rebels. 

On  the  following  day  the  rebels  made  a  sudden 
and  heavy  sortie  from  their  works,  and  advanced 
their  infantry  and  artillery  against  the  right  of  the 
line,  with  the  intention  of  breaking  it.  The  ad 
vance  was  made  under  cover  of  a  dense  fog,  but 
thev  found  Sherman  prepared,  and  were  met  with 
a,  determined  resistance.  General  Johnston,  on 
the  night  of  the  16th  of  July,  hastily  evacuated  the 
city  and  retreated  toward  the  east.  Sherman  at 
once  dispatched  expeditions  in  all  directions  for  the 
purpose  of  destroying  railroads,  bridges,  water- 
tanks,  and  other  valuable  property  belonging  to 
the  enemy. 

Under  date  of  July  23d,  1863,  General  Grant 
says: 

"  I  would  respectfully,  but  urgently,  recommend 
Major  General  W.  T.  Sherman,  now  commanding 
the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  to  the  position  of 
Brigadier  General  in  the  Regular  Army. 

"To  General  Sherman  I  am  greatly  indebted 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  133 

for  his  promptness  in  forwarding  to  me,  during  the 
siege  of  Fort  Donelson,  reinforcements  and  sup 
plies  from  Paducah.  At  the  battle  of  Sliiloli,  on 
the  first  day  he  held  with  raw  troops  the  key-point 
to  the  landing.  To  his  individual  efforts  I  am 
indebted  for  the  success  of  that  battle.  Twice  hit, 
and  several  (I  think  three)  horses  shot  under  him 
on  that  day,  he  maintained  his  position  with  raw 
troops.  It  is  no  disparagement  to  any  other  officer 
to  say  that  I  do  not  believe  there  was  another  divi 
sion  commander  on  the  field  who  had  the  skill  and 
experience  to  have  done  it.  His  services  as  divi 
sion  commander  in  the  advance  on  Corinth,  .Twill 
venture  to  say,  were  appreciated  by  the  new  Gen- 
eral-in-chief  beyond  those  of  any  other  division 
commander. 

"  General  Sherman's  arrangement  as  commander 
of  troops  in  the  attack  on  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  last 
December,  was  admirable ;  seeing  the  ground  from 
the  opposite  side  from  the  attack,  I  saw  the  impos 
sibility  of  making  it  successful.  The  conception 
of  the  attack  on  Arkansas  Post  was  General  Sher 
man's.  His  part  of  the  execution,  no  one  denies, 
was  as  good  as  it  possibly  could  have  been.  His 
demonstration  at  Haines'  Bluff,  in  April,  to  hold 
the  enemy  about  Yicksburg,  while  the  army  was 
securing  a  foothold  east  of  the  Mississippi;  his 
rapid  marches  to  join  the  army  afterwards;  his 


134  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

management  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  in  the  first  attack; 
his  almost  unequaled  march  from  Jackson  to 
Bridgeport,  and  passage  of  Black  River;  his  secur 
ing  "Walnut  Hills  on  the  18th  of  May,  and  thus 
opening  communications  with  our  supplies,  all 
attest  his  great  merit  as  a  soldier.  The  siege  of 
Vlcksburg  and  last  capture  of  Jackson  and  disper 
sion  of  Johnston's  army,  entitle  Geneial  Sherman 
to  more  credit  than  usually  falls  to  the  lot  of  one 
man  to  earn.  The  promotion  of  such  men  aa 
Sherman  always  adds  strength  to  our  arms." 


CHAPTER   VI. 

SHERMAN'S  GEEAT  MARCH  TO  CHATTANOOGA,  AND 
THE  BATTLES  OF  MISSIONARY  RIDGE  AND  LOOKOUT 
MOUNTAIN. 

BRIEF     REST      OF      SHERMAN'S      COMMAND STARTS     FOR 

CHATTANOOGA NARROW    ESCAPE    OF    SHERMAN  —  THE 

FIGHT  AT  CANE  CREEK  —  TAKES  COMMAND  OF  THE 
ARMY  OF  THE  TENNESSEE ARRIVES  AT  CHATTA 
NOOGA BATTLE  BEFORE  CHATTANOOGA — FIRST  DAY'S 

BATTLE SECOND  DAY BATTLE  OF  LOOKOUT  MOUN 
TAIN,  THIRD  DAY ACCOUNT  OF  AN  EYE  WITNESS  OF 

THE  BATTLE  OF  TUNNEL  HILL BATTLE  OF  MISSION 
ARY  RIDGE INCIDENTS. 

After  the  occupation  of  Jackson  by  the  Union 
array,  Sherman  and  his  men  enjoyed  a  brief  rest. 
The  Fifteenth  Corps  during  the  month  of  Septem 
ber  was  in  camp  along  the  Big  Black  River, 
guarding  the  region  east  of  Vicksburg.  Sherman 
received  a  telegram  from  Grant  on  the  22d  of  Sep 
tember  to  immediately  send  a  division  to  reenforce 
Rosecraus,  who  had  just  lost  an  important  and 
severe  battle  with  Bragg  near  Chattanooga.  At 
four  o'clock  P.  M.  of  the  same  day  Osterhaus'  divi 
sion  was  on  the  road.  On  the  23d  Sherman  was 
summoned  to  follow  with  the  remainder  of  his  corps. 


136  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

and  Ms  troops,  which  were  always  in  readiness, 
started  instantly.  He  was  011  his  way  to  Memphis 
on  the  27th,  followed  by  a  fleet  of  boats  transport 
ing  his  two  divisions.  On  account  of  the  low  water 
in  the  Mississippi,  and  the  scarcity  of  fuel,  the 
voyage  was  very  slow,  but  with  his  usual  energy, 
Sherman  supplied  the  lack  of  fuel  by  frequently 
landing  and  gathering  fence-rails,  and  hauling  wood 
in  wagons  from  the  interior  to  the  boats.  They 
reached  Memphis  on  the  2d,  3d  and  4th  of  October, 
and  Osterhaus'  division  was  at  that  time  in  front  of 
Corinth. 

Sherman  received  orders  from  General  Halleck 
at  Memphis  to  transport  his  corps  and  all  other 
available  troops  in  his  vicinity  to  Athens,  Ala.,  to 
repair  the  railroad,  and  to  depend  on  himself  for 
supplies  of  all  kinds.  Although  the  men  were  im 
mediately  ordered  to  work  day  and  night  on  the 
railroad,  Sherman  saw  that  his  troops  could  move 
faster  by  road  under  escort,  and  accordingly  moved 
his  entire  Fourth  division  by  land. 

The  enemy  were  considerably  alarmed  by  this 
eastward  movement,  and  a  body  of  rebel  cavalry 
and  infantry  had  concentrated  at  Salem  and  Tus- 
cumbia,  with  the  intention  of  thwarting  it,  and,  if 
possible,  put  a  stop  to  Sherman  joining  Rosecrans. 
A  body  of  cavalry  and  infantry  four  thousand 
strong,  besides  a  number  of  pieces  of  artillery, 


AND   HIS  'CAMPAIGNS.  137 

under  Colonel  Chalmers,  made  their  appearance 
upon  the  railroad,  several  miles  beyond  Colliers- 
ville,  on  the  morning  of  October  llth.  As  soon 
as  the  regular  passenger  train,  which  the  enemy 
had  allowed  to  pass,  although  in  his  powder,  had 
run  by,  the  track  was  torn  up  in  several  places  and 
the  ties  stacked  upon  the  road  and  fired.  General 
Sherman  and  staff,  accompanied  by  his  body 
guard,  a  battalion  of  the  Thirteenth  infantry  (his 
own  regiment),  started  the  same  day  on  a  special 
train,  and  upon  approaching  the  fires,  the  troops 
on  board  prepared  for  an  attack,  though  they  did 
not  disembark.  On  approaching  Colliersville, 
which  was  defended  by  a  few  troops  in  a  stockade, 
the  train  was  fired  upon,  as  was  expected,  wound 
ing  several  persons.  It  was  soon  discovered  that 
Chalmers  was  investing  the  place,  and  General 
Sherman  ordered  his  regulars  to  charge  directly 
upon  the  enemy,  in  order  to  cover  the  transit  of  the 
United  States  troops  to  the  train,  causing  the  rebels 
to  flee  in  all  directions  in  a  perfect  panic.  The 
Union  troops  then  succeeded  in  taking  refuge 
within-  the  stockade,  and  acted  entirely  on  the 
defensive. 

Before  General  Sherman's  arrival,  the  little  garri 
son  had  engaged  the  enemy  in  a  severe  conflict,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  appearance  they  had  been  over 
whelmed  and  driven  within  the  fortifications  of  the 


138  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

place.  Fighting  continued  but  a  short  time  after 
the  timely  arrival  of  Sherman,  though  while  it  did 
the  General  took  an  active  part  among  the  men, 
and  had  much  to  do  with  keeping  up  their  spirits. 
The  troops  reached  Corinth  on  the  night  of  the 
12th,  and  Sherman  immediately  sent  General  Blair 
to  luka  with  the  First  division,  sending  the  troops 
as  fast  as  they  came  up  to  Bear  Creek,  a  few  miles 
east  of  luka. 

Sherman,  foreseeing  the  difficulty  in  crossing 
the  Tennessee,  had  written  to  Admiral  Porter  at 
Cairo  to  send  up  gun-boats  as  soon  as  the  water 
would  permit,  and  to  General  Allen  at  St.  Louis 
to  dispatch  a  ferry-boat  to  Eastport,  which  requests 
were  promptly  complied  with.  He  continued,  in 
accordance  with  orders,  to  work  at  the  railroad, 
protecting  his  working  parties  from  the  enemy's 
attacks.  He  dispatched  Blair  with  two  divisions 
at  the  same  time,  to  rout  the  enemy  from  Tus- 
cumbia,  where  they  were  encamped,  five  thousand 
strong,  under  Stephen  Lee.  They  succeeded  in 
driving  the  rebels  from  their  position,  after  a 
severe  fight  at  Cane  Creek;  and  occupied  Tus- 
cumbia  on  the  27th  of  October. 

In  the  mean  time  General  Grant  had  been  placed 
in  command  of  the  three  great  armies  of  the  Ohio, 
the  Cumberland  and  the  Tennessee,  and  he  at  once 
put  Sherman  in  command  of  the  latter,  Grant's 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  139 

former  department.  Sherman  heard  of  this  at 
luka,  and  recognized  his  new  command.  He  sent 
Ewiug,  on  the  day  of  the  fight  at  Cane  Creek,  with 
a  division  to  cross  the  Tennessee,  and  move  as 
rapidly  as  possible  to  Eastport,  which  he  did.  A 
messenger  from  General  Grant  came  down  the 
Tennessee  over  the  Muscle  Shoals  the  same  day, 
with  an  order  to  "  drop  all  work  on  the  railroad 
east  of  Bear  Creek,'7  and  push  on  to  Bridgeport, 
which  message  exactly  suited  Sherman.  This  was 
at  once  executed,  and  the  march  resumed,  all  the 
columns  bearing  toward  Eastport,  the  only  practi 
cable  plan  of  crossing  the  Tennessee.  Sherman 
himself  crossed  on  the  1st  of  November,  passed  to 
the  head  of  the  column,  leaving  General  Blair  in 
charge  of  the  rear,  and  marched  to  Rogersville  and 
the  Elk  River.  But  he  found  the  river  impassable, 
and  as  there  was  no  time  for  ferrying  or  building  a 
bridge,  there  seemed  no  alternative  but  the  long 
march  to  Fayetteville,  and  then  to  Bridgeport. 
This  march  accomplished,  the  route  for  each  sub 
command  was  prescribed,  and  General  Sherman 
hurried  in  person  to  Bridgeport,  and  telegraphed 
to  General  •  Grant  the  position  of  his  various 
divisions. 

On  the  15th  of  November  the  head  of  General 
Sherman's  column  arrived  at  Chattanooga,  where 

O      t 

they  formed  a  junction  with  the  forces  under 
General  Thomas,  on  the  right  of  the  main  army. 


140  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

General  Grant  received  him  very  cordially,  and 
at  once  ordered  him  to  cross  the  Tennessee  with 
his  troops,  effect  a  lodgment  on  the  terminus  of 
Missionary  Ridge,  and  with  a  part  of  his  command 
to  make  a  demonstration  against  Lookout  Moun 
tain.  Although  his  men  were  nearly  exhausted 
with  an  almost  superhuman  march,  Sherman  says : 
"I  saw  enough  of  the  condition  of  men  and 
animals  in  Chattanooga  to  inspire  me  with  re 
newed  energy."  He  at  once  directed  E wing's  divi 
sion  to  make  the  intended  demonstration,  and 
returned  himself  to  Bridgeport,  rowing  a  boat 
down  the  Tennessee  from  Kelly's,  and  upon  arriv 
ing  instantly  started  his  other  divisions  in  the  order 
they  had  arrived.  The  roads  were  in  a  most 
wretched  condition,  and  it  was  only  by  the  most 
incessant  labor  day  and  night  that  he  succeeded 
in  getting  three  divisions  concealed  behind  the 
hills  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Chickamauga,  on 
the  23d  of  November.  His  Fourth  division  was 
left  behind  at  Hooker's  camp,  on  account  of  the 
breaking  of  Brown's  Ferry  Bridge,  and  it  acted 
against  Lookout  Mountain.  He  moved  a  small 
force  silently  along  the  river  the  same  night,  cap 
turing  every  guard  of  the  enemy's  picket  of  twenty 
men,  except  one.  Eight  thousand  men  were  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  Tennessee  by  daylight  of 
November  24th,  and  had  succeeded  in  throwing 


AND   HIS   CAMFAIGNS.  141 

ap  a  secure  rifle  trench.  A  pontoon  bridge  thir 
teen  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long  was  begun  imme 
diately,  and  at  one  o'clock  was  completed,  and  the 
three  divisions  marched  across,  and  up  from  the 
river,  skillfully  arranged  for  deployment  to  the 
right  on  meeting  the  enemy.  Nature  seemed  to 
favor  them,  for  a  light  drizzling  rain  and  low  hang 
ing  clouds  completely  covered  these  movements, 
so  that  at  half  past  three  P.  M.,  the  desired  posi 
tion  on  Missionary  Ridge  was  gained.  They  pushed 
quickly  up  the  hill,  surprised  the  enemy,  and  held 
the  hill  in  their  possession.  The  enemy  showed 
his  chagrin  at  finding  himself  flanked  and  out- 
manceuvered  so  completely  by  the  Union  troops 
by  brisk  artillery  and  musketry  firing;  but  our 
artillery,  dragged  up  the  steep  ascent,  in  a  sharp 
engagement  quickly  silenced  him.  The  second 
spur  of  the  ridge  still  beyond,  was  now  seen  to  be 
the  chief  objective  point.  The  present  position 
was  strongly  intrenched  at  once,  and  at  midnight 
orders  were  received  to  attack  the  enemy  at  dawn. 
The  plan  of  the  battle  was  for  Hooker  to  hold  the 
enemy  at  Lookout  Mountain,  and  if  possible  carry 
it,  and  Sherman  was  to  vigorously  assault  Mission 
ary  Ridge,  which  was  their  vital  point,  and  the 
enemy  would  concentrate  his  forces  to  defend 
it.  This  would  leave  his  centre  weak,  and 
Thomas  would  rush  upon  it,  and  penetrate  it.  To 


142  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN 

many  who  looked  up  at  the  frowning  and  precipi 
tous  heights  which  almost  towered  into  the  clouds, 
above  Chattanooga,  with  rebel  works  covered  thick 
with  artillery,  the  idea  of  carrying  them  seemed 
but  little  short  of  madness,  although  the  plan  was 
simple  and  plausible,  and  proved  in  the  end  suc 
cessful.  The  rebels  —  so  secure  did  they  feel  — 
had  sent  outLongstreet's  entire  corps  to  Knoxville, 
where  it  closely  besieged  the  forces  under  Burn- 
side.  "By  half-past  three  P.  M.,  of  the  24th," 
says  Grant,  "the  whole  of  the  northern  extremity 
of  Missionary  Ridge,  to  near  the  tunnel,  was  in 
Sherman's  possession.  During  the  night  he  forti 
fied  the  position  thus  secured,  making  it  equal, 
if  not  superior,  in  strength  to  that  held  by  the 
enemy/' 

From  a  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Herald, 
Mr.  W.  F.  G.  Shanks,  an  eye-witness,  we  have  the 
following : 

"  Tuesday  morning,  November  24th,  was  gloomy, 
threatening  rain,  and  until  quite  late  our  forces 
remained  inactive.  The  day  was  chosen  for  ope 
rations  on  the  flanks,  and  for  that  purpose  Hooker 
and  Sherman  began  to  move  quite  early. 

"Learning  that  General  Sherman's  position  was 
not  over  two  miles  and  a  half  distant,  from  where 
he  was  stationed,  General  Howard  sent  one  of 
his  staff  011  the  dangerous  mission  of  finding  Gen 
eral  Sherman,  alone.  The  skirmishers  were  then 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  143 

thrown  forward  until  the  line  became  dangerously 
extended,  and  none  of  General  Sherman's  troops 
were  found.  The  staff-officer  departed  on  his  mis 
sion  of  danger;  but  by  keeping  close  to  the  river, 
succeeded  in  crossing  and  recrossing  the  gap  with 
out  being  captured.  General  Howard,  on  receiv 
ing  his  report,  ordered  his  division  to  push  further 
to  the  left,  and  started  out  to  seek  General  Sher 
man.  I  pursued  the  same  route  and  soon  found 
General  Sherman's  troops,  and  was  standing  on 
the  unfinished  pontoon  bridge  which  General  Sher 
man  was  building,  when  General  Howard  came  up. 
The  last  boat  of  the  bridge  was  being  placed  in 
the  centre  of  the  stream  as  General  Howard  ar 
rived,  and  introduced  himself  across  the  slight 
gulf  between  the  two.  Sherman,  on  the  north 
end  of  the  bridge,  dressed  loosely,  with  a  worn 
overcoat  thrown  around  him,  was  directing  the 
completion  of  the  bridge ;  and  as  soon  as  the 
boat  was  put  in,  sprang  over  and  shook  the  hand 
of  the  princely  Howard.  It  was  exactly  at  noon. 
"  I  found  on  inquiry,  that  General  Sherman  had 
at  an  early  hour  thrown  a  portion  of  one  of  his  di 
visions  across  the  river,  under  the  protection  of  a 
battery,  and  subsequently  the  other  divisions,  the 
greater  portion  being  crossed  by  the  steamer  Dun- 
bar,  which,  captured  two  months  ago  at  Chat 
tanooga,  had  been  repaired,  and  was  now  serving 


144  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN 

good  and  loyal  purposes.  Immediately  on  arriving 
he  had  thrown  up  strong  rifle-pits  in  two  lines, 
covering  the  approach  to  the  bridge,  and  adding 
much  strength  to  a  naturally  strong  position.  The 
troops  of  his  corps,  at  the  hour  of  noon,  held  these 
works  and  were  waiting  for  a  division  of  the  Four 
teenth  Corps,  to  cross  the  river  and  take  up  posi 
tion  in  the  works.  This  division  had  been  sent  to 
General  Sherman  in  place  of  Osterhaus,  who  was 
acting  wTith  General  Hooker,  and  was  now  being 
used  by  Sherman  as  a  reserve. 

"  This  division  crossed  the  river,  and  went  into 
line  within  the  works  about  an  hour  after  the 
meeting  between  Howard  and  Sherman.  At  the 
same  moment  General  Sherman  gave  his  orders  to 
prepare  for  an  attack.  By  this  hour,  one  o'clock 
P.  M.,  the  drizzly  rain,  which  had  been  threaten 
ing  us,  began  to  fall,  and  the  object  of  the  assault 
was  soon  hid  from  view.  General  Sherman  stood 
on  a  prominent  hill  to  the  left  of  the  pontoon 
bridge,  and  having  succeeded,  with  the  aid  of  two 
orderlies,  and  in  despite  of  the  rain,  in  lighting  a 
cigar,  stood  puffing  away  at  one  end,  chewing  at  the 
other,  and  observing  all  that  could  be  seen  in  the 
country  before  him.  Around  him  were  gathered 
at  this  time  Generals  Frank  Blair,  Morgan  L. 
Smith,  Ewing,  John  W.  Corse,  and  Howard. 
The  troops  of  the  several  divisions  were  encamped 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  145 

just  in  front  of  him,  while  on  the  left  and  rear 
Davis'  artillery  was  thundering  over  the  bridge. 

"In  a  very  quiet  tone  Sherman  gave  his  orders 
to  form  for  an  assault,  remarking  that  the  enemy 
was  reported  heavy  in  his  front.  The  formation, 
as  ordered,  was  echelon  on  the  left,  General  Morgan 
L.  Smith's  division  being  the  left,  John  E.  Smith's 
the  centre,  and  Ewing's  the  right.  The  left  was  to 
keep  well  toward  Chickamauga  Creek ;  '  and,' 
added  Sherman,  <  I  want  you  to  keep  up  the  for 
mation,  four  hundred  yards  distance,  until  you  get 
to  the  foot  of  the  hill.' 

"  cAnd  shall  we  keep  it  after  that?'  asked  Gen. 
Ewing. 

"  '  You  may  go  up  the  hill,'  answered  Sherman, 
f  if  you  like,  and  can.' 

"  General  Davis  having  got  into  position,  and  the 
troops  having  been  arranged  as  ordered,  General 
Sherman  gave  the  orders  to  move  to  the  assault. 
They  were  couched  in  very  common  terms;  but 
which  ought  to  be  preserved?  "I  see  Davis  is  up. 
I  guess  you  may  as  well  go  on  and  take  the  hill." 
In  a  few  moments  the  three  columns  were  moving. 
******** 

But  it  was  not  destined  that  Tuesday  should 
witness  a  conflict  for  these  hills.  General  Sherman 
had  anticipated  skirmishing  before  reaching  the 
foot  of  the  mountain,  it  having  been  reported  by 


146  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

citizens  that  the  enemy  held  the  position  in  strong 
force.  But  the  foot  of  the  hill  was  reached,  after  a 
short  delay,  without  any  serious  skirmishing,  only 
a  few  shells  from  Tunnel  Hill  passed  over  our 
heads,  and  exploded  among  the  colored  pioneers, 
who  followed  in  our  rear,  doing  no  damage,  but 
causing  the  negroes  to  lose  all  respect  for  orders  to 
4  close  up.' 

"  The  enemy  made  no  opposition  to  the  occupa 
tion  of  the  extreme  end  of  the  ridge.  General  Sher 
man  was  in  possession  of  this  at  about  four  o'clock 
P.  M.  It  then  appeared  that  the  hills  occupied 
were  separated  from  Mission  Ridge  by  a  narrow 
valley,  through  which  the  railroad  .runs. 

"  The  hills  occupied  by  Sherman  were  three  in 
number,  and  semi-circular  in  shape,  bending  around 
and  north  of  the  end  of  Mission  Ridsre.  The  end 

O 

of  the  ridge  is  generally  and  very  properly  called 
Tunnel  Hill.  It  overlooks  and  commands  the  hills 
of  which  General  Sherman  found  himself  in  peace 
able  possession;  and,  on  examination,  he  found 
that  the  labor  still  remained  to  be  done.  A  close 
inspection  of  the  ground  and  the  enemy's  position 
determined  Sherman  to  occupy  the  semi-circular 
ridge  with  his  centre  and  right,  and  throw  his  left 
still  further  to  the  left,  and  in  the  region  of  Myer's 
Mill.  The  division  moved  promptly  to  this  posi 
tion,  and  took  possession  of  the  valley  from  the 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  147 

foot  of  the  hills  to  Chickamauga  River,  securing  at 
the  time  about  one  hundred  rebels  engaged  in 
building  rafts  of  fallen  timber,  with  which  to 
destroy  our  pontoon  bridges. 

"  General  Sherman  ordered  the  erection  of  defen 
ses  on  the  ridge  he  had  occupied,  and  finding  he  did 
not  propose  to  push  further  during  the  little  of 
daylight  left  him,  I  left  his  corps  and  proceeded  to 
join  that  of  General  Hooker. 

"  Daylight  on  "Wednesday  morning  revealed  the 
signal  flags  waving  over  Lookout,  and  the  artillery 
of  Sherman  opening  from  his  position  on  Fort 
Buckner.  I  had  seen  General  Rawlins,  of  Grant's 
staff,  dash  away  a  few  minutes  before  towards  Fort 
Wood,  and  knowing  that  he  had  gone  to  fire  the 
signal  for  the  assault,  I  hurried  off  to  see  Sherman's 

fight- 

In  the  morning's  dim  light,  before  dawn,  Sher 
man  had  made  the  entire  tour  of  his  position,  and 
his  quick  eye  perceived  that  a  deep  valley  lay 
between  him  and  the  precipitous  sides  of  the  next 
hill  in  the  series,  which  was  only  partially  cleared, 
and  of  which  the  crest  was  narrow  and  wooded. 
The  enemy  held  the  further  point  of  the  hill,  with 
a  strong  breastwork  of  logs  and  fresh  earth, 
crowded  with  men,  and  carrying  two  guns.  He 
appeared  in  greater  force  on  a  still  higher  hill 
beyond  the  enemy,  and  had  a  fair  fire  on  the  inter 
mediate  hill  in  dispute.  From  Sherman's  position 


148 

the  gorge  between  these  two  latter  hills,  through 
which  passes  the  railroad  tunnel,  could  not  be  seen, 
but  it  formed  the  natural  place  d}  armes,  where 
the  enemy  covered  his  forces  to  resist  our  turn 
ing  his  right  flank,  and  thus  endangering  his 
communications  with  the  Chickamauga  Depot. 

The  advance  was  led  by  General  Corse.  "And," 
says  Sherman,  "  the  sun  had  hardly  risen  before 
his  bugle  sounded  the  'Forward.' '  Briskly  down 
into  the  valley  and  up  the  steep  sides  of  the  hill  in 
front  moved  Corse's  men,  and  succeeded  in  carry 
ing  a  sort  of  secondary  crest  on  the  enemy's  hill, 
which,  however,  was  swept  with  a  murderous  fire 
from  the  breastworks  in  front.  A  bloody  and  des 
perate  conflict  now  raged  for  more  than  an  hour, 
the  line  of  Union  troops  now  swaying  up  very  near 
to  the  breastwork,  as  though  it  would  entirely  en 
gulf  it,  and  then  dashed  back,  receding  to  its  first 
conquest.  Sherman's  left  on  the  outer  spur  of  the 
ridge,  and  his  right  abreast  of  the  tunnel,  were 
hotly  engaged,  and  drew  the  enemy's  fire  in  part 
from  the  assaulting  party  on  the  hill-crest.  The 
fight  raged  most  furiously  about  ten  o'clock  A.  M., 
and  General  Corse  was  severely  wounded.  Two 
brigades  were  sent  up  as  reinforcements,  but,  owing 
to  the  crowded  condition  ef  the  crest,  they  were 
obliged  to  fall  away  to  the  west  of  the  hill.  The 
heavy  masses  of  the  enemy  in  the  gorge  could  now 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  149 

be  seen  moving  out  on  their  right  and  rear,  under 
cover  of  the  thick  undergrowth.  The  two  brigades 
which  came  up  the  hill  last  were  so  suddenly  over 
whelmed  that  they  fell  back  in  some  confusion  to 
the  lower  edge  of  the  field,  where  they  formed 
again  in  good  order.  The  attacking  column  was 
still  stubbornly  held  by  General  Corse,  Colonel 
Loomis  and  General  M.  L.  Smith.  Of  these  Gen 
eral  Grant  says:  "The  assaulting  column  advanced 
to  the  very  rifle-pits  of  the  enemy,  and  held  their 
position  firmly  and  without  wavering. "  The  enemy 
showed  some  signs  of  pursuit  when  the  two  sup 
porting  brigades  fell  back,  but  by  the  well-directed 
fire  of  one  brigade  on  the  wooden  crest,  he  was 
caught  in  flank,  and  hastily  sought  his  cover  behind 
the  hill. 

This  incessant  and  desperate  attack  of  Sherman, 
which  proved  so  triumphantly  successful,  was 
directed  against  the  enemy's  most  northern  and 
vital  point,  and  was  vigorously  continued  all  day. 
Sherman  not  only  threatened  the  right  flank  of  the 
enemy,  but  also  his  rear  and  stores  at  Chicka- 
mauga.  "  At  three  P.  M.  column  after  column  of 
the  enemy  was  streaming  towards  me,"  writes 
Sherman;  "gun  after  gun  poured  its  concentric 
shot  on  us  from  every  hill  and  spur  that  gave  a 
view  of  any  part  of  the  ground."  He  waited  long 
and  anxiously  for  the  centre  to  open  its  part  of  the 


150 

contest,  in  the  meanwhile  holding  stubbornly  to 
his  bloody  ridge  under  murderous  fire.  Grant 
knowing  the  importance  of  this  key-point,  sent  a 
division  to  Sherman's  support,  but  it  was  sent  back 
by  him,  with  word  that  "  he  had  all  the  force  ne 
cessary."  "  Discovering  that  the  enemy,"  says 
Grant,  "in  his  desperation  to  defeat  or  resist  the 
progress,  was  weakening  his  centre  on  Missionary 
Ridge,  determined  me  to  order  the  advance  at 
once."  The  order  was  given,  and  gallantly  exe 
cuted.  The  rebel  forces  against  which  Sherman 
was  contending,  to  their  dismay,  now  found  Thomas 
on  their  left  flank,  and  their  centre  broken  in. 
They  turned,  but  all  too  late,  for  the  white  line  of 
Thomas'  musketry  swept  up  from  ridge  to  ridge, 
and  Bragg' s  army  fell  back,  defeated,  into  the 
valleys  of  Georgia. 

The  storming  of  Missionary  Ridge  is  thus 
described  by  an  eye  witness :  * 

"And  still  the  Union  troops  passed  on,  scaling 
unwaveringly  the  sides  of  Missionary  Ridge.  The 
blood  of  their  comrades  renders  their  footsteps 
slippery;  the  toil  of  the  ascent  almost  takes  away 
their  breath ;  the  rebel  musketry  and  artillery  mow 
down  their  thinned  ranks — but  still  they  press  on  ! 
Not  once  do  they  even  seem  to  waver.  The  color 


*  Correspondence  of  the  Cincinnati  Gazette. 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  151 

bearers  press  ahead,  and  plant  their  flags  far  in 
advance  of  the  troops ;  and  at  last,  oh,  moment  of 
supremest  triumph,  they  reach  the  crest,  and  rush 
like  an  avalanche  upon  the  astonished  foe.  Whole 
regiments  throw  down  their  arms  and  surrender, 
the  rebel  artillerists  are  bayoneted  by  their  guns, 
and  the  cannons  which  had  a  moment  before  been 
thundering  on  the  Union  ranks  are  now  turned 
about,  pouring  death  and  terror  into  the  midst  of 
the  mass  of  miserable  fugitives  who  are  rushing 
down  the  eastern  slope  of  the  ridge." 

INCIDENTS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  BATTLE  OF  MISSIONARY 
RIDGE. 

Our  troops  met  one  loyal  welcome  on  the  height. 
How  the  Tennesseean  that  gave  it  managed  to  get 
there  nobody  knows,  but  there  he  was,  grasping  a 
colonel's  hand,  and  saying,  while  the  tears  ran 
down  his  face,  "  God  be  thanked !  I  knew  the 
Yankees  would  fight !  " 

A  little  German  in  Wood's  division  is  pierced 
like  the  lid  of  a  pepper-box,  but  he  is  neither  dead 
nor  wounded.  "  See  here/'  he  says,  rushing  up  to 
a  comrade,  "  a  pullet  hit  te  preach  of  mine  gun,  a 
pullet  in  mine  pocket-book,  a  pullet  in  mine  coat- 
tail — they  shoots  me  tree,  five  time,  and  I  gives 
itliem ;  yet!"* 

*  Mr.  B.  F.  Taylor's  correspondence  to  the  Chicago  Journal. 


152  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

"We  glean  the  following  from  a  private  letter 
from  an  officer : 

"  The  charge  of  the  army  on  Missionary  Rldgo 
astounded  Bragg.  Breckinridge's  head-quarters 
were  on  the  ridge,  in  full  view  of  our  troops.  A 
lady  who  lives  there  related  the  following :  '  Before 
you  all  came  up  here,  I  asked  General  Bragg, 
'  "What  are  you  going  to  do  with  me,  general  ?' 
He  says  to  me,  'Lord!  madam,  the  Yankees  will 
never  dare  to  come  up  here.'  'And,'  she  added, 
with  a  blubber,  'it  was  not  fifteen  minutes  until 
you  were  all  around  here.' ' 


CHAPTEK  VII. 

SHERMAN    AND  THE    SIEGE    OF    KNOXVILLE,    AND    THE 
EXPEDITION  THROUGH  MISSISSIPPI. 

PURSUIT    OF    THE    ENEMY    AFTER     THE     BATTLE     OF     MIS 
SIONARY    RIDGE MARCH    TO    KNOXVILLE  TO    RELIEVE 

BURNSIDE RETURNS      TO      CHATTANOOGA AT     MEM 
PHIS—LETTER    OF    SHERMAN EXPEDITION    THROUGH 

MISSISSIPPI INCIDENT. 

The  greater  part  of  the  struggle  was  over,  but 
other  work  yet  remained  to  be  done.  The  same 
night  that  witnessed  our  success  found  Sherman 
pursuing  the  flying  columns  of  the  enemy.  Having 
sent  out  his  skirmishers  and  finding  that  the  enemy 
had  given  way,  he  sent  a  division  after  him  to  the 
depot,  and  at  four  o'clock  A.  M.,  followed  with  a 
part  of  Major-General  Howard's  Eleventh  Corps. 

"While  at  the  depot,  General  Sherman,  with 
other  officers,  assisted  in  putting  out  a  portion  of 
the  fire  around  the  railroad  platform,  as  the  rebels 
before  leaving  had  set  fire  to  the  depot.  As  the 
column  moved  forward,  they  came  upon  wagons, 
guns,  caissons,  forage,  stores,  pontoons,  and  all  the 
ruins  of  a  defeated  army,  and  an  abandoned  camp. 


154  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

They  met  with  but  little  opposition  until  nearly 
dark  011  the  26th,  when  as  they  emerged  out  of 
some  low  swampy  land,  the  enemy  opened  fire 
upon  them  with  musketry  and  artillery  from  a  low 
hill.  A  sharp  fight  ensued,  lasting  nearly  an  hour, 
when  they  drove  the  enemy  from  the  field.  Their 
killed  and  wounded  were  left  in  our  hands. 

The  next  day  all  three  armies  passed  on  to  Grays- 
ville,  Thomas  and  Hooker  sharing  with  Sherman 
the  marching  and  fighting.  Sherman  in  the  mean 
time  detached  Howard  to  move  against  the  rail 
road  between  Dalton  and  Cleveland  and  destroy 
it,  which  was  soon  done  and  the  communication 
thereby  cut  between  Bragg  and  Longstreet.  He 
continued  his  march  to  Kinggold,  where. he  found 
Grant.  The  enemy  had  been  driven  from  Ten 
nessee,  and  Sherman  was  now  ordered  to  move 
leisurely  back  to  Chattanooga.  He  destroyed  the 
railroad  on  the  next  day  from  half-way  between 
Graysville  and  Ringgold  to  the  State  line,  and  with 
General  Grant's  consent,  instead  of  returning  to 
Chattanooga,  he  sent  back  all  his  artillery,  wagons, 
and  impediments,  and  made  a  circuit  by  the  north 
as  far  as  Hiawassee,  resulting  in  the  destruction 
of  more  railroad  and  the  capture  of  more  stores. 

"This,"  says  Sherman,  "  was  to  have  been  the 
limit  of  our  journey.  Officers  and  men  had  brought 
no  baggage  01  provisions,  and  the  weather  was  bitter 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  155 

cold."  But  Grant  had  received  an  urgent  appeal 
from  General  Burn  side  for  relief,  stating  that  his 
supplies  could  not  last  longer  than  the  3d  of  De 
cember,  and  nothing  but  the  utmost  energy  would 
save  Knoxville  and  its  gallant  commander.  Grant 
had  already  ordered  General  Granger  thither,  but 
he  had  not  as  yet  started,  and  the  commanding 
general  determined,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
two  divisions  of  Sherman's  forces  had  marched 
from  Memphis  and  gone  into  battle  immediately 
on  their  arrival  at  Chattanooga,  to  send  him  with 
his  command.  And  General  Sherman  accordingly 
received  command  of  all  the  troops  designed  for 
relieving  Knoxville,  including  Granger's. 

"  Seven  days  before,"  writes  Sherman,  "we  had 
left  our  camps  on  the  other  side  of  the  Tennessee, 
with  two  days  rations,  without  a  change  of  cloth 
ing,  stripped  for  the  fight,  with  but  a  single  blanket 
or  coat  per  man,  from  myself  to  the  private  in 
cluded.  Of  course,  we  then  had  no  provisions, 
save  what  we  gathered  by  the  road,  and  were  ill 
supplied  for  such  a  march.  But  we  learned  that 
twelve  thousand  of  our  fellow  soldiers  were  be 
leaguered  in  the  mountain  town  of  Knoxville, 
eighty-four  miles  distant,  that  they  needed  relief, 
and  must  have  it  in  three  days.  This  was  enough  ; 
and  it  had  to  be  done." 


156 

Howard  planked  and  repaired  the  railroad  bridge 
that  night,  and  at  dayhreak  the  army  passed  the 
Hiawassee  and  marched  to  Athens,  fifteen  miles. 
On  the  2d  of  December  the  Union  forces  hurried 
towards  London,  twenty-six  miles  distant,  the 
cavalry  pushing  ahead  to  save  the  pontoon-bridge 
across  the  Tennessee,  held  by  Vaughn's  brigade  of 
the  enemy.  They  moved  with  their  usual  rapidity, 
and  succeeded  in  capturing  every  picket,  but  found 
Vaughn  strongly  posted  in  earth-works  with  artil 
lery  in  position.  They  were  obliged  to  wait  till 
night,  when  Howard's  infantry  came  up.  The 
enemy  retreated  during  the  night,  destroying  the 
pontoons,  running  three  locomotives  and  forty- 
eight  cars  into  the  Tennessee,  and  leaving  for  our 
army  to  capture  a  large  quantity  of  provisions, 
four  guns,  and  other  property. 

But  one  day  of  the  three  alloted  Sherman's 
forces  to  reach  Knoxville  remained,  and  the  bridge 
was  gone.  Sherman  therefore  sent  w^ord  the  same 
night  to  Colonel  Long,  commanding  the  cavalry 
brigade,  that  Burnside  must  know  before  the  next 
night  of  his  approach  —  ordered  him  to  select  his 
best  material,  to  start  at  once  for  Knoxville,  ford 
the  Little  Tennessee,  and  "  at  whatever  cost  of  life 
or  horse-flesh,"  to  push  into  Knoxville.  The  road 
was  the  worst  that  could  be  imagined,  and  the 
distance  to  be  traveled  forty  miles.  They  were 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  157 

on  the  road  before  dawn,  and  at  daylight  the  Fif 
teenth  Corps  was  turned  from  Philadelphia  to 
Morgantown,  but  even  here  they  found  the  Little 
Tennessee  too  deep  for  fording.  General  Wil 
son  skillfully  extemporized  a  bridge,  — "  working 
partly  with  crib-work  and  partly  with  square 
trestles  made  of  the  houses  of  the  late  town  of 
Morgantown,"  and  the  bridge  was  ready  and  the 
troops  passing  by  dark  of  December  4th.  The 
welcome  message  came  the  next  morning  from 
Burnside,  dated  December  4th,  that  Long's  cavalry 
had  reached  Knoxville  on  the  night  before,  and  all 
was  well.  The  bridge  had  given  away  just  before 
the  reception  of  this  news,  causing  delay,  but  it 
was  soon  mended,  and  the  forced  march  continued, 
until  the  night  of  the  5th.  Arriving  at  Marysville, 
a  staff  officer  of  General  Burnside  rode  up  and 
announced  that  Longstreet  had  raised  the  siege  the 
night  before.  Sherman  sent  forward  Granger's 
two  divisions  to  Knoxville,  and  ordered  the  remain 
der  of  his  army  to  halt  and  rest ;  for  their  work 
was  accomplished. 

From  Marysville  General  Sherman  rode  to 
Knoxville,  where  he  met  General  Burnside,  and 
while  there,  received  the  following  letter : 

KNOXVILLE,  December  7th,  18G3. 
To  MAJOR-GENERAL  SHERMAN  :  — 

I  desire  to  express  to  you  and  your  command  my  most  hearty 
thanks  and  gratitude  for  your  promptness  in  coming  to  our  relief 

N 


158  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

during  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  and  am  satisfied  your  approach 
served  to  raise  the  siege. 

A.  E.  BURNSIDE,  Major-General. 

Knoxville  being  saved,  it  seemed  best  for  Sher 
man's  army,  with  the  exception  of  Granger's  two 
divisions,  to  support  the  suspended  movement 
against  Bragg,  and  they  leisurely  retraced  their 
steps  to  Chattanooga.  After  an  easy  march  of  four 
days,  we  find  them  again  at  Chattanooga.  The 
three  months'  campaign  just  ended  was  a  most 
arduous  one,  Sherman's  losses  amounting  to  over 
two  thousand  men.  In  Sherman's  official  report, 
he  states  that  the  men  under  his  command  had 
marched  for  long  periods,  without  regular  rations 
or  supplies  of  any  kind,  through  mud  and  over 
rocks,  sometimes  barefooted,  without  a  murmur. 
After  a  march  of  four  hundred  miles,  without  a 
moment's  rest,  and  no  sleep  for  three  nights,  they 
crossed  the  Tennessee  River,  fought  their  part  in 
the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  pursued  the  enemy  out 
of  Tennessee,  then  turned  and  marched  more  than 
one  hundred  miles  north,  and  compelled  Longstreet 
to  raise  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  which  had  caused 
so  much  anxiety  all  over  the  country. 

Soon  after,  while  at  Memphis,  on  his  way  to 
Vicksburg,  General  Sherman  was  honored  with  a 
magnificent  dinner,  at  which  time  he  paid  General 
Grant  a  high  compliment  for  his  coolness  and 
bravery. 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  159 

He  arrived  at  Vicksburg  shortly  after,  and  while 
there  wrote  an  able  and  lengthy  letter  on  the 
proper  treatment  of  disloyal  people  in  conquered 
territory,  some  extracts  from  which  we  subjoin  : 

"  The  war  which  now  prevails  in  our  land  is 
essentially  a  war  of  races.  The  Southern  people 
entered  into  a  clear  compact  of  government,  but 
still  maintained  a  species  of  separate  interests, 
history,  and  prejudices.  These  latter  became 
stronger  and  stronger,  till  they  have  led  to  a  war 
which  has  devolved  fruits  of  the  bitterest  kind. 

"  We  of  the  North  are,  beyond  allquestion,  right 
in  our  lawful  cause,  but  we  are  not  bound  to  ignore 
the  fact  that  the  people  of  the  South  have  preju 
dices,  which  form  a  part  of  their  nature,  and  which 
they  cannot  throw  off  without  an  effort  of  reason 
or  the  slower  process  of  natural  change.  E"ow, 
the  question  arises,  should  we  treat  as  absolute 
enemies  all  in  the  South  who  differ  from  us  in 
opinion  or  prejudice — kill  or  banish  them  ?  or 
should  we  give  them  time  to  think  and  gradually 
change  their  conduct,  so  as  to  conform  to  the  new 
order  of  things  which  is  slowly  and  gradually 
creeping  into  their  country? 

""When  men  take  arms  to  resist  our  rightful 
authority,  we  are  compelled  to  use  force,  because  all 
reason  and  argument  cease  when  arms  are  resorted 
to.  When  the  provisions,  forage,  horses,  mules, 


ICO  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

wagons,  &c.,  are  used  by  our  enemy,  it  is  clearly 
our  duty  and  right  to  take  them,  because  otherwise 
they  might  be  used  against  us. 

"  In  like  manner,  all  houses  left  vacant  by  an 
inimical  people  are  clearly  our  right,  or  such  as  are 
needed  as  storehouses,  hospitals  and  quarters.  But 
a  question  arises  as  to  dwellings  used  by  women, 
children  and  non-combatants.  So  loDg  as  noii- 
combatants  remain  in  their  houses  and  keep  to 
their  accustomed  business,  their  opinions  and  pre 
judices  can  in  no  wise  influence  the  war,  and, 
therefore,  should  not  be  noticed.  But  if  any  one 
comes  out  into  the  public  streets  and  creates  dis 
order,  he  or  she  should  be  punished,  restrained,  or 
banished,  either  to  the  rear  or  front,  as  the  officer 
in  command  adjudges.  If  the  people,  or  any  of 
them,  keep  up  a  correspondence  with  parties  in 
hostility,  they  are  spies,  and  can  be  punished  with 
death,  or  minor  punishment. 

"  These  are  well-established  principles  of  war, 
and  the  people  of  the  South,  having  appealed  to 
war,  are  barred  from  appealing  to  our  Constitution, 
which  they  have  practically  and  publicly  defied. 
They  have  appealed  to  war,  and  must  abide*  its 
rules  and  laws.  The  United  States,  as  a  bellige 
rent  party  claiming  right  in  the  soil  as  the  ultimate 
sovereign,  have  a  right  to  change  the  population, 
and  it  may  be,  and  is,  both  politic  and  just  we 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  161 

should  do  so  in  certain  districts.  "When  the  inhabi 
tants  persist  too  long  in  hostility,  it  may  be  both 
politic  and  right  we  should  banish  them  and  appro 
priate  their  lands  to  a  more  loyal  and  useful  popu 
lation.  ISTo  man  will  deny  that  the  United  States 
would  be  benefitted  by  dispossessing  a  single  pre 
judiced,  hard-headed  and  disloyal  planter,  and 
substituting  in  his  place  a  dozen  or  more  patient, 
industrious,  good  families,  even  if  they  be  of 
foreign  birth.  I  think  it  does  good  to  present  this 
view  of  the  case  to  many  Southern  gentlemen,  who 
grew  rich  and  wealthy,  not  by  virtue  alone  of  their 
industry  and  skill,  but  by  reason  of  the  protection 
and  impetus  to  prosperity  given  by  our  hitherto 
moderate  and  magnanimous  Government.  It  is  all 
idle  nonsense  for  these  Southern  planters  to  say 
that  they  made  the  South,  that  they  own  it,  and 
that  they  can  do  as  they  please  —  even  to  break  up 
our  Government  and  to  shut  up  the  natural  avenues 
of  trade,  intercourse  and  commerce. 


"  Whilst  I  assert  for  our  Government  the  highest 
military  prerogatives,  I  am  willing  to  bear  in 
patience  that  political  nonsense  of  slave  rights, 
State  rights,  freedom  of  conscience,  freedom  of 
press,  and  such  other  trash,  as  have  deluded  the 
Southern  people  into  war,  anarchy,  bloodshed,  and 


162 

the  foulest  crimes  that  have  disgraced  any  time  or 
any  people. 

"I  would  advise  the  commanding  officers  at 
Iluntsville,  and  such  other  towns  as  are  occupied 
by  our  troops,  to  assemble  the  inhabitants  and  ex 
plain  to  them  these  plain,  self-evident  propositions, 
and  tell  them  that  it  is  for  them  now  to  say  whether 
they  and  their  children  shall  inherit  the  beautiful 
land  which  by  the  accident  of  nature  has  fallen  to 
their  share.  The  Government  of  the  United  States 
has  in  North  Alabama  any  and  all  rights  which 
they  choose  to  enforce  in  war — to  take  their  lives, 
their  homes,  their  lands,  their  everything ;  because 
they  cannot  deny  that  war  does  exist  there ;  and 
war  is  simply  power,  unrestrained  by  Constitution 
or  compact.  If  they  want  eternal  war,  well  and 
good :  we  will  accept  the  issue  and  dispossess  them 
and  put  our  friends  in  possession.  I  know  thou 
sands  and  millions  of  good  people  who,  at  simple 
notice,  would  come  to  North  Alabama  and  accept 
the  elegant  houses  and  plantations  now  there.  If 
the  people  of  Huntsville  think  different,  let  them 
persist  in  war  three  years  longer,  and  then  they  will 
not  be  consulted.  Three  years  ago,  by  a  little 
reflection  and  patience,  they  could  have  a  hundred 
years  of  peace  and  prosperity,  but  they  preferred 
war.  Very  well.  Last  year  they  could  have  saved 
their  slaves,  but  now  it  is  too  late :  all  the  powers 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  163 

of  earth  cannot  restore  to  them  their  slaves,  any 
more  than  their  dead  grandfathers.  Kext  year  their 
lands  will  be  taken — for  in  war  we  can  take  them, 
and  rightfully  too — and  in  another  year  they  may 
beg  in  vain  for  their  lives.  A  people  who  will  per 
severe  in  war  beyond  a  certain  limit,  ought  to  know 
the  consequences.  Many,  many  people,  with  less 
pertinacity  than  the  South,  have  been  wiped  out  of 
national  existence." 

Before  leaving  Memphis  for  Vicksburg,  Sherman 
ordered  General  W.  S.  Smith,  with  eight  thousand 
cavalry  to  start  from  Memphis  on  the  1st  of  Febru 
ary,  with  instructions  to  move  down  to  Meridian, 
destroy  the  enemy's  railroads,  and  meet  him  at 
that  point.  They  failed  however  to  commence 
their  movement  at  the  proper  time,  and  did  not 
start  until  the  llth  of  February. 

General  Sherman,  with  a  force  of  about  twenty 
thousand  infantry  and  twelve  hundred  cavalry,  and 
a  wagon  train  carrying  twenty  days  rations  — 
pushed  boldly  from  Vicksburg  on  the  3d  of  Febru 
ary,  holding  no  line  of  communication,  but  cutting 
himself  loose  from  all,  in  a  strict  movable  column. 
He  anticipated  some  resistance  and  looked  for 
fighting  —  but  the  rebels  retreated  before  him, 
somewhat  delaying  him  by  skirmishing,  destroying 
roads  and  bridges,  and  placing  various  impedi 
ments  in  the  way. 


164  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

The  line  of  Sherman's  march  was  easterly,  first 
crossing  the  Big  Black  River,  and  then  to  Cham 
pion  Hills,  Clinton,  and  Jackson.  McPherson's 
and  Hurlbut's  Corps,  hitherto  on  different  roads, 
met  them  at  Jackson,  and  Sherman  took  command 
of  the  three  divisions.  The  march  was  now  con 
tinued,  and  at  Line  Creek  they  met  the  enemy,  in 
a  slight  encounter,  and  overcoming  them,  still 
pressed  on,  and  with  but  little  opposition  arrived 
at  Quitman  which  was  captured,  and  soon  after  the 
village  of  Enterprise  shared  the  same  fate.  The 
rebels  seemed  paralyzed  by  the  boldness  and  rapi 
dity  of  his  movements,  and  could  offer  no  serious 
resistance  to  his  march  through  the  country.  Sher 
man's  column  arrived  at  the  Big  Clumkey  River 
on  the  13th  of  February,  and  after  crossing  pushed 
forward  to  Meridian.  He  had  now  traversed  the 
State  of  Mississippi  from  Vicksburg,  which  was  at 
the  extreme  west  of  the  State,  to  Meridian,  which 
was  at  the  east.  He  had  traveled  about  one 
hundred  miles,  penetrated  the  very  centre  of  the 
Confederacy,  and  the  centre  also  of  the  negro, 
corn,  and  cotton  region.  He  had  captured  an  im 
mense  amount  of  stores,  and  had  destroyed  thou 
sands  of  dollars  worth  of  property  belonging  to 
the  rebel  Government,  including  railroads  and 
mills. 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  165 

General  Sherman  now  halted  his  army,  and 
waited  for  General  Smith's  cavalry  column,  which 
should  have  left  Memphis  on  February  1st.  He 
had  met  the  rebels  on  his  way,  and  was  driven  back 
defeated  and  disgraced.  Sherman  needed  Smith's 
eight  thousand  cavalry  to  prosecute  his  onward 
movement,  and  without  them  he  did  not  care  to 
proceed  further.  After  waiting  a  short  time,  de 
stroying  all  within  his  reach,  he  returned  to 
Yicksburg  by  the  same  route  he  had  pursued  in 
his  advance.  In  all  probability,  had  Smith  joined 
him  at  the  proper  time,  Sherman  would  have 
pushed  through  Alabama,  and  either  struck  at 
Mobile  or  Montgomery;  but  the  failure  of  the 
cavalry  to  join  him  changed  his  plans  entirely;  but 
he  damaged  the  enemy  in  many  ways  and  to  a 
great  extent. 

INCIDENT. 

After  the  troops  returned  to  Chattanooga,  one 
of  Sherman's  men  was  challenged  by  a  sentinel, 
and  replied  that  he  "  belonged  to  the  Fifteenth 
Corps." 

"  Where's  your  badge  ?"  inquired  the  sentinel. 

"  What  badge  ?"  asked  the  man. 

"  The  badge  of  your  corps.  We  wear  a  crescent 
to  designate  us."  The  querist  belonged  to  the 
Eleventh  Corps. 


166  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEBMAN, 

" Badge?"  he  quickly  replied.  "Forty  rounds 
of  ammunition  in  our  cartridge  boxes ;  sixty  rounds 
in  our  pockets;  a  march  from  Chattanooga;  a 
battle  and  pursuit;  another  march  to  Knoxville; 
and  victory  everywhere.  That  is  badge  enough 
for  us." 

It  is  needless  to  add  that  he  passed  the  sentinel 
without  farther  questions. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

SHERMAN'S  GREAT  CAMPAIGN  FROM  CHATTANOOGA  TO 
ATLANTA. 

SHERMAN  APPOINTED  THE  SUCCESSOR  OF  GRANT  —  TOUR 
OF  INSPECTION  AND  PLAN  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN COM 
MENCEMENT  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN STRENGTH  OF  THE 

ARMY THE    STRENGTH   OF  THE   ENEMY POSITION  OF 

OUR    FORCES     ON     THE     SIXTH    OF     MAY  —  THE     ENEMY 

FLANKED    OUT    OF    THEIR    POSITION    AT    DALTON THE 

BATTLE    OF    RESACA THE   RESULT INCIDENTS. 

After  General  Grant  had  been  commissioned 
lieutenant-general  and  commander-in-chief  of  the 
Armies  of  the  United  States,  General  Sherman  was 
appointed  his  successor  of  the  Grand  Division  of 
the  Mississippi.  This  appointment  was  made  on 
the  12th  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1864;  but  Sherman 
did  not  receive  notice  of  it  until  the  14th,  two  days 
afterwards.  The  States  of  Kentucky,  Tennessee, 
Mississippi,  Alabama  and  Georgia,  and  all  the 
troops  in  these  several  States,  were  included  in  this 
military  division. 

As  soon  as  Sherman  had  made  some  very  impor 
tant  improvements  in  the  means  of  transportation, 
and  felt  perfectly  secure  in  regard  to  a  sufficiency 


168 

of  supplies,  lie  immediately  set  out  on  a  tour  of 
inspection.  He  visited  Athens,  Decatur,  Hunts- 
ville,  Chattanooga,  Knoxville,  and  other  military 
points  of  his  new  command.  In  this  preliminary 
tour  of  observation,  he  had  interviews  with  Major 
General  McPherson,  commander  of  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee,  at  Huntsville ;  with  Major  General 
Thomas,  commanding  the  Army  of  the  Cumber 
land,  at  Chattanooga;  and  with  Major  General 
Schofield,  commanding  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  at 
Knoxville.  In  the  interviews  which  Sherman  had 
with  the  lieutenant-general,  and  the  various  subor 
dinate  army  commanders,  a  general  programme  of 
the  campaign  was  arranged. 

On  the  27th  of  April,  all  the  troops  organized 
under  Sherman's  command  moved  towards  Chat 
tanooga,  and  on  that  day  he  was  there  in  person. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  the  effective  strength  of  the 
several  armies  combined  for  offensive  purposes  was 
about  as  follows  :  The  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
under  command  of  Major  General  Thomas,  con 
tained  an  infantry  force  of  54,568  men ;  artillery, 
2,337  men;  cavalry,  3,828;  total,  60,733,  and  130 
guns.  The  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  under  com 
mand  of  Major  General  McPherson,  contained 
22,437  infantry,  1,404  artillery,  and  624  cavalry; 
total,  24,465,  and  96  guns.  The  Army  of  the 
Ohio,  under  command  of  Major  General  Schofield, 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  169 

contained  11,183  infantry,  679  artillery,  and  1,679 
cavalry;  total,  13,541,  and  28  guns.  The  grand 
aggregate  number  of  troops  was  98,739,  and  254 
guns. 

WQ  learn,  from  General  Sherman's  report,  that 
these  numbers  were  maintained  during  the  cam 
paign.  The  men  constantly  returning  to  the  army, 
whose  furloughs  had  expired,  together  with  those 
from  various  hospitals,  about  compensated  for  the 
loss  in  battle  and  from  sickness. 

Sherman'4  estimated  the  enemy,  General  John 
ston's  force,  under  Generals  Hardee,  Hood  and 
Polk,  at  about  50,000  troops.  General  Hood  has 
since  reported  the  number  70,000. 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  May,  the  forces 
under  Sherman  were  placed  as  follows :  The  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  was  at  and  near  Ringgold; 
that  of  the  Tennessee  at  Gordon's  Mills,  on  the 
Chickamauga ;  and  that  of  the  Ohio  near  Eed  Clay, 
on  the  Georgia  line,  north  of  Dalton. 

At  this  time  the  enemy  occupied  a  strong  posi 
tion  at  Dalton,  on  the  railroad,  about  forty  miles 
south  of  Chattanooga,  which  could  not  be  success 
fully  assaulted  in  front,  as  it  was  covered  by  an 
inaccessible  ridge,  between  which  and  Dalton  is 
the  famous  pass  of  Buzzard  Roost,  well  obstructed 
by  abattis  and  flooded  by  the  water  from  Mill  Creek. 
Sherman  resolved  to  compel  the  evacuation  of  that 


170 

place  by  flank  movements.  In  this  he  was  perfectly 
successful,  and  compelled  the  enemy  to  evacuate 
Dalton,  and  fall  back  to  Resaca,  a  place  on  the 
railroad,  about  fifteen  miles  south  of  Dalton. 

THE    BATTLE    OF   KESACA. 

This  battle  was  fought  on  Saturday  and  Sunday, 
May  the  14th  and  15th.  Previous  to  this  time 
there  had  been  several  sharp  fights  and  some  severe 
skirmishing.  On  the  9th,  as  the  right  wing  of  our 
army  was  passing  through  Snake  Creek  Gap,  it  had 
a  sharp  encounter  with  the  enemy,  while  the  left 
and  centre  of  the  army  were  engaged  in  skirmish 
ing.  Slight ,  skirmishing  took  place  on  the  llth, 
and  on  the  13th  General  Kilpatrick  was  wounded 
in  the  foot,  while  making  a  cavalry  reconnoissance 
before  Resaca.  But  on  the  14th  and  15th  of  the 
month  our  army  had  the  first  battle  of  the  cam 
paign.  Although  the  result  was  not  every  thing 
that  was  hoped  for,  yet  General  Sherman  and  the 
country  may  well  be  proud  of  it. 

The  following  account  of  this  battle,  given  in  the 
language  of  an  eye  witness,  will  be  read  with  great 
interest : 

RESACA,  GEOKGIA,  May  14th,  1864. 

Our  line  as  formed  last  night,  was  in  the  form  of 
a  semi-circle,  to  the  north-west  of  Sugar  Valley, 
while  the  Ostanaula  River  completes  the  circle  on 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  171 

the  south-east.  Sugar  Valley  is  a  fertile  little  plain 
of  about  ten  square  miles  in  size,  much  broken  by 
Mils,  which  at  this  season  of  the  year  are  covered 
by  a  dense  undergrowth  of  small  trees  and  vines, 
rendering  them  very  difficult  to  penetrate.  It  was 
in  this  valley,  between  the  projected  Rome  and 
Dalton  Railroad  and  the  river  that  encircles  Resaca 
and  Tilton,  that  the  enemy  made  a  stand  after  being 
closely  pressed  on  Ms  retreat  from  Dalton.  From 
our  centre  to  the  river,  the  distance  this  morning 
was  about  seven  miles.  Our  line  extended  com 
pletely  around  the  valley,  McPherson's  right  rest 
ing  on  the  river  near  the  junction  with  Oothkalaga 
Creek  or  Calhoun,  while  the  left  strikes  the  river 
north  of  Tilton  near  the  junction  of  the  river  with 
Swamp  Creek  that  takes  its  rise  in  the  hill  of  Su 
gar  Valley.  Lick  and  Camp  Creeks  also  burst  out 
from  the  hills  in  the  valley,  and  empty  their  waters 
in  the  Ostanaula  River,  which  is  very  broad  and 
deep,  but  can  be  forded  when  the  water  is  low,  at 
six  points.  The  above  is  as  intelligible  a  description 
as  can  be  given  without  the  aid  of  a  map ;  and 
now 

* 

THE  OPENING  OF  THE  BATTLE. 

As  I  have  already  said,  our  lines  were  formed  in 
a  half  circle  extending  from  the  river  on  the  left 
to  a  point  on  the  river  near  Calhoun.  The  corps 


172  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

occupied  positions  in  the  line  as  follows,  extending 
from  right  to  left :  first,  McPherson ;  second, 
Hooker;  third,  Palmer;  fourth,  Schofield;  fifth, 
Howard. 

Skirmishing  commenced  early  in  the  morning, 
and  many  prisoners  were  brought  in  as  the  result, 
although  the  attack  made  by  us  was  but  faintly 
responded  to.  Skirmishing-  continued,  with  occa 
sional  truces,  lasting  from  ten  to  thirty  minutes,  all 
the  morning.  Meantime  our  general  officers  were 
not  idle.  Generals  Sherman  and  Thomas  with 
their  indefatigable  corps  commanders,  rode  along 
the  line  with  their  staffs,  personally  superintend 
ing  the  parking  of  ambulances  and  ammunition 
trains,  and  assigning  batteries  to  positions  where 
they  could  be  of  the  most  service  in  the  event  of 
a  general  engagement. 

CHANGE  IN  THE  LINE. 

At  nine  o'clock,  General  Schofield  was  ordered 
to  withdraw  his  corps  from  the  part  of  the  line 
between  Palmer  and  Hooker,  and  take  a  new  posi 
tion  on  the  left  of  Newton's  division  of  the  Fourth 
Corps.  Palmer  closed  up  the  gap  between  his  left 
and  IsTewton,  and  Judah's  and  Cox's  division  of 
Schofield's  Corps  came  up  in  the  place  assigned  to 
them.  Hovey's  brigade  of  the  Second  Corps  was 
left  in  reserve  and  did  not  participate  in  the  battle 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  173 

of  to-day.  By  some  mistake  in  the  giving  or  re 
ception  of  the  order,  General  Cox's  division  failed 
to  get  up  in  time,  and  Judah  and  the  force  on  his 
right  advanced  upon  the  enemy,  thus  leaving  a  gap 
of  half  a  mile  between  Judah's  left  and  Stabley's 
right,  which,  was  promptly  filled  by  cavalry.  Con 
siderable  confusion  followed  the  announcement  of 
the  existence  of  this  gap,  and  staff  officers  in  vain 
rode  for  hours  in  search  of  Cox's  division  through 
the  thick  underbrush  in  which  our  line  was  formed. 
It  was  lost :  and  staff  officers  reported  that  Gen 
eral  Schofield  could  obtain  no  intelligence  from  it. 


General  Judah  just  before  noon  received  an  order 
from  General  Schofield  to  open  the  attack,  and 
though  his  left  flank  was  liable  at  any  moment  to 
be  turned,  he  informed  General  Schofield  of  the 
fact,  and  at  once  moved  forward  upon  the  enemy's 
skirmishers.  The  boys  moved  rapidly  through  the 
vines  and  shrubbery,  through  the  valley,  drove  the 
enemy  before  them,  and  with  a  cheer  crossed  the 
deep  gorge  near  which  the  enemy  had  thrown  up 
strong  breastworks  commanding  the  valley.  The 
enemy  opened  a  destructive  fire  from  their  artil 
lery,  which  the  brave  division  stood  for  some  time, 
vainly  striving  by  superhuman  efforts  to  carry  the 
breastworks.  It  was  repulsed  after  a  gallant  effort, 


174  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

and  retired  into  the  valley  in  disorder.  "We  had 
not  jet  got  up  on  the  left,  and  no  artillery  support 
was  at  hand.  Nevertheless  General  Judah  resolved 
not  to  retire  without  one  more  effort.  Collecting 
together  the  fragments  of  his  broken  but  not  dis 
couraged  regiments,  a  new  line  was  hastily  formed 
and  the  whole  division  were  just  in  the  act  of  ad 
vancing  in  a  charge  which  all  felt  would  have  put 
it  in  possession  of  the  enemy's  line  of  works  when 
the  division  was 

RELIEVED    BY   GENERAL   NEWTON'S   DIVISION 

of  the  Eleventh  Corps.  In  the  meantime  the  gap 
in  the  line  was  filled,  Cox  took  his  position,  and  for 
an  hour  the  incessant  roll  of  the  musketry,  as  vol 
ley  after  volley  was  poured  into  the  ranks  of  the 
enemy,  and  as  vigorously  returned,  told  that  the 
conflict  was  a  desperate  one.  Artillery  fire  was 
delivered  into  the  enemy's  ranks  rapidly  and  with 
excellent  effect.  Their  artillery  did  not  much  in 
jury,  as  Palmer  had  silenced  eight  guns  with  his 
regiments,  who  under  cover  acted  as  sharpshooters 
and  picked  off  the  cannoniers  as  often  as  they  ad 
vanced  to  work  their  pieces.  No  better  evidence 
can  be  given  of  the  desperate  nature  of  the  con 
flict,  than  the  loss  in  McLean's  brigade,  which  went 
into  the  fight  with  1,388  men,  and  lost  595  in  the 
short  time  it  was  engaged.  General  Newton's 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  175 

division  pressed  the  enemy  strongly,  and  inflicted 
serious  injury  upon  him.  About  two  o'clock  the 
firing  in  the  centre  in  front  of  Newton  subsided 
into  a  slight  skirmish  fire. 

GENERAL    COX'S   DIVISION. 

The  division  of  General  Cox,  which  finally  turned 
up  on  Judah's  left,  fought  with  great  pluck  and 
obstinacy,  driving  the  skirmishers  back  upon  their 
main  line  and  the  line  into  their  breastworks,  from 
which  they  poured  into  the  ranks  incessant  fire  of 
shell  and  ball.  Across  valleys,  up  hills,  through 
gorges  and  ravines  they  were  driven,  until  they 
gained  their  first  line  of  rifle  pits.  Cox  soon  dis 
lodged  them  and  sent  them  back  howling  to  their 
more  formidable  breast-works.  At  this  moment 
Cox  found  that  he  was  out  of  ammunition,  and 
by  the  stupid  blunder  on  the  part  of  somebody, 
the  trains  were  too  far  in  the  rear  from  which  to 
replenish  his  cartridge  boxes.  Yet  he  was  deter 
mined  not  to  be  foiled,  and  gathering  together  all 
his  strength,  he  advanced  his  line.  A  cheer  went 
up  from  his  boys  and  resounded  through  the  hills 
as  his  serried  line  advanced  upon  the  enemy's 
works,  which  they  carried  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet  in  splendid  style ;  but  not  without  the  loss 
of  many  brave  men. 


176  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

WHAT  PALMER'S  FOURTEENTH  CORPS  ACCOMPLISHED.- 
The  heaviest  fighting  of  the  day  was  on  the 
centre.  Palmer's  corps,  on  the  right  of  Newton's 
division,  had  heavy  skirmishing  along  the  whole 
line,  lasting  from  half-past  twelve  until  one  o'clock, 
when  Caiiin's  brigade,  of  Johnston's  division,  ad 
vanced  down  a  slope  of  a  hill,  and  drove  the  enemy 
into  their  breastworks  on  the  south  side  of  a  hill 
rising  out  of  the  valley  on  the  south.  An  assault 
on  the  breastworks  was  not  ordered.  The  brigade 
at  once  sought  cover  in  a  ditch  formed  by  a  dried 
up  stream,  and  until  night  covered  them,  acted  as 
sharp-shooters,  and  did  good  execution  in  silencing 
batteries  engaged  in  enfilading  Judah  and  Newton. 
Mitchell's  brigade,  of  Davis'  division,  got  into  a 
similar  position,  and  picked  off  every  rebel  whose 
head  protruded  above  the  breastworks. 

Turchin's  brigade,  of  Baird's  division,  joined 
Judah  on  the  left  of  Palmer's  corps,  and  fought 
desperately,  but  were  compelled  to  fall  back  with 
Judah's  division.  The  loss  in  the  corps,  outside 
of  Turchin's  brigade,  was  light. 

WOOD'S   DIVISION,   FOURTH   CORPS. 

The  Fourth  Corps,  under  command  of  Major 
General  Howard,  the  "  one-armed  veteran,"  as  he 
is  styled  in  the  corps,  played  a  very  conspicuous 
part  in  the  tragedy  of  war  enacted  to-day.  All 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  177 

the  corps,  with  the  exception  of  Beatty's  fighting 
brigade,  for  which  room  could  not  be  found,  as  the 
circle  was  gradually  compressed  as  we  advanced, 
was  engaged,  and  covered  itself  with  imperishable 
glory.  Wood's  division  was  ordered  into  position 
on  the  right  of  General  Stanley  just  before  noon, 
and  was  soon  hotly  engaged  with  Hazen's  and 
Willich's  brigades,  driving  the  enemy.  For  some 
time  a  destructive  infantry  and  artillery  fire  was 
kept  up,  and  ere  long  his  main  line  advanced  in 
overwhelming  strength  upon  the  enemy,  who  fled, 
at  his  Approach,  to  his  rifle-pits,  from  which  the 
energetic  Wood  soon  dislodged  him,  and  compelled 
him  to  seek  shelter  under  cover  of  their  breast 
works,  but  nothing  in  comparison  with  those  in 
the  Twenty-third  Corps,  which,  to-day,  bore  the 
brunt  of  the  battle. 

After  three  o'clock  the  resistance  offered  by  the 
enemy  on  the  centre,  through  which  he  had  vainly 
striven  to  force  a  passage,  grew  more  lax,  and  very 
little  firing  other  than  skirmishing  was  heard. 

THE    ENEMY    MASSING    ON    OUR    LEFT. 

Foiled  at  every  point  in  his  efforts  to  break  our 
walls  of  iron  that  environed  him,  Johnston,  early 
in  the  afternoon,  commenced  massing  heavily  on 
our  left,  where  Stanley,  with  as  brave  a  division  as 
ever  marched  to  the  music  of  the  Union,  had  been 


178 

skirmishing  and  awaiting  the  developments  of  the 
enemy's  attempt  to  break  the  centre.  Generals 
Sherman  and  Thomas  were  not  slow  to  detect  the 
enemy's  design,  and 

PREPARATIONS    TO    RESIST    IT 

were  at  once  commenced.  Joe  Hooker's  gallant 
Potomac  veterans  were  selected  at  once,  and  imme 
diately  retired  from  the  line  and  commenced  mov 
ing  to  the  left  of  Stanley.,  whose  flank  was  covered 
by  McCook's  cavalry,  in  front  of  which  Johnston 
was  massing  his  columns  for  the  desperate  effort. 
Hooker  arrived  none  too  soon. 

A    MOMENT    OF    THRILLING   INTEREST. 

At  seven  o'clock,  when  quiet  reigned  along  the 
whole  line,  with  an  occasional  interruption  from  a 
sharp-shooter's  rifle,  the  expected  attack  came. 
Down  upon  Stanley's  exposed  flank  came  the 
enemy  in  overwhelming  numbers.  For  a  few 
minutes  the  line  nobly  resisted  the  terrific  attack ; 
but  as  it  was  renewed  with  ten-fold  fury  by  the 
enemy,  who  fought  with  a  desperation  equal  to 
anything  ever  performed  by  our  own  soldiery,  the 
line  wavered,  and  the  regiments  on  the  left  were 
giving  back  in  confusion  and  disorder,  when,  above 
the  roar  of  the  artillery  and  musketry  that  seemed 
to  make  the  old  hills  tremble  and  quake,  a  cheer 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  179 

was  heard,  and  into  the  deadly  breach,  over  the 
dead  bodies  of  the  fallen,  came  on  the  double- 
quick,  Robinson's  brigade,  who  advanced  to  the 
assault  with  desperate  determination  to  drive  back 
the  solid  columns  of  the  enemy,  and  save  the  army 
from  disaster.  Nobly  they  met  the  enemy,  and 
when  the  shock  came,  reeling  like  drunken  men, 
the  line  of  the  enemy  was  broken  and  sent  back, 
smarting  under  the  shock.  The  contest  was  of 
short  duration,  but,  while  it  lasted,  the  roar  of  ar 
tillery  and  the  roll  of  musketry  told  that  this  was 
one  of  the  most  critical  moments  of  the  day — a 
period  when  the  heart  of  the  listener  seemed  to 
stand  still  in  suspense.  The  Fourth  Corps  will 
never  forget  Hooker  and  the  noble  brigade  which, 
at  a  moment  when  the  fate  of  the  army,  and  per 
haps  of  the  nation,  hung  upon  a  slender  thread, 
which  the  enemy  would  have  severed,  came  up  and 
turned  the  tide  of  battle.  A  nation's  thanks  are 
due  Joe  Hooker,  and  may  it  never  forget  Robin 
son's  brigade,  whose  gallantry  to-night  is  on  every 
tongue. 

SUNDAY,  May  15th. 

During  last  night  quiet  reigned  along  the  whole 
line,  the  enemy  being  very  quiet,  and  rarely  firing 
a  shot.  The  falling  of  trees  and  the  sound  of  ax- 
men,  however,  convinced  our  commanders  that  the 
rebels  were  erecting  stronger  fortifications  upon 


180  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

the  innumerable  hills  that  rise  out  of  the  valley. 
At  half-past  seven  in  the  morning  our  skirmishers 
opened  fire  upon  the  rebel  line,  which  was  as  vig 
orously  returned  on  the  left  and  left-centre.  The 
enemy,  however,  did  not  seem  disposed  to  attack 
with  their  main  line,  after  the  fearful  slaughter  and 
repulse  that  Hooker  administered  to  them  last 
night.  It  was  not  until  nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning  that  the  Twentieth  Corps  arrived  from  the 
right,  and  got  into  position  on  Stanley's  left.  The 
Twenty-third  Corps  was  immediately  withdrawn 
from  the  right  of  the  line  and  thrown  in  on  the  left. 
As  our  line  was  nearly  fourteen  miles  long,  these 
necessary  changes  occupied  nearly  the  entire  morn 
ing,  so  that  mid-day  arrived  ere  we  were  ready  to 
make  the 

ASSAULT  ON  THE  ENEMY'S  WORKS. 

Hooker  threw  forward  Butterfi eld's  division 
against  the  enemy's  strongest  position,  supported 
by  Williams'  and  Geary's  divisions,  and  the  battle 
opened  vigorously  on  both  sides.  Hooker  fought 
for  three  or  four  hours,  and  made  steady  headway, 
carrying  line  after  line  of  rifle-pits,  until  Butter- 
field's  division  encountered  a  lunette  of  formidable 
size.  Several  attempts  were  made  to  carry  it,  and 
capture  its  four  guns,  which  were  pouring  a  de 
structive  fire  into  our  lines,  but  the  attempt  was 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  181 

futile.  The  troops  fought  with  great  desperation, 
"but  as  often  as  they  advanced  upon  the  lunette  the 
terrific  volleys  of  musketry  from  the  enemy  in  the 
fortification  hurled  them  back  in  confusion.  At 
last  Butterfield  charged  forward  and  took  a  posi 
tion  under  the  protecting  works  of  the  fort,  so 
close  to  the  guns  within  that  they  could  be  touched 
with  the  men's  hands.  In  the  effort  to  gain  this 
unexposed  position,  the  contest  was  a  bloody  one, 
Geary's  division  supporting  Butterfield.  Wood's 
brigade,  which  was  participating  in  the  first  battle, 
fought  with  marked  determination,  and  contributed 

O  * 

much  to  secure  the  position. 

HOOKER    CARRIES    THE    LUNETTE    BY    STRATEGY. 

After  vain  efforts  to  capture  the  lunette  from 
which  the  enemy  poured  into  our  ranks  grape, 
canister  and  shrapnel,  Hooker's  forces  gave  up 
the  unequal  contest,  and  during  the  balance 
of  the  day  lay  under  the  breastworks,  protected 
from  the  enemy's  fire,  and  picking  off  every 
rebel  who  showed  himself  above  the  works. 
Darkness  found  him  in  this  position,  and  he  at 
once  matured  plans  for  capturing  the  works  by 
strategy,  under  cover  of  darkness.  The  pioneers 
were  brought  up ;  the  ends  dug  out  of  the  works, 
and  the  guns  drawn  out  by  the  aid  of  ropes,  under 
a  destructive  fire  from  the  occupants  of  the  works, 
p 


182 

wlio  were  driven  out  or  captured,  as  our  troops 
swarmed  in  through  the  opening  in  overwhelming 
numbers.  The  guns  were  four  twelve  pound  brass 
pieces ;  and  a  number  of  battle  flags,  including 
those  of  the  Thirty-eighth  and  Thirty-fifth  Ala 
bama,  were  captured,  with  over  200  prisoners. 
Prisoners  report  General  Walthall  (rebel)  killed, 
and  General  Tucker  wounded. 

THE    LOSSES   IN   HOOKER'S    CORPS 

were  very  heavy,  especially  in  the  repeated  charges 
upon  the  enemy's  works.  Butterfield  lost  about 
500  ;  Geary  100,  and  Williams'  division  about  150, 
making  Hooker's  loss  about  750  in  the  battle  of 
the  afternoon.  The  Twenty-third  Corps,  which  was 
moved  around  from  the  right,  as  a  support  for 
Hooker,  lost  slightly. 

GLORIOUS    VICTORY    BY    HOVEY'S    INDIANA    DIVISION. 

About  two  o'clock  the  enemy,  learning  from 
prisoners  taken  from  us,  that  Hovey's  Indiana  divi 
sion  of  araw  recruits"  held  a  position  in  the  line, 
and  smarting  under  their  successive  repulses  on 
other  portions  of  the  line,  hurled  a  heavy  force 
upon  Hovey,  convinced  that  the  recruits  would 
run.  "Not  so,  however.  The  rebels  held  a  stronger 
position  in  a  gorge  of  the  hills,  and  out  of  their 
breastworks  they  swarmed  in  large  numbers  and 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  183 

made  a  furious  attack  upon  the  division,  which 
nobly  repulsed  them  after  a  short  and  bloody  con 
test  of  fifteen  minutes.  The  assault  was  renewed, 
when  the  "  raw  Hoosiers  "  charged  upon  them  on 
the  double-quick,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  grape,  and 
literally  mowed  them  down.  They  did  not  assault 
the  Indianians  the  third  time.  To-night  the  en 
comiums  of  the  whole  corps  are  being  showered 
upon  Hovey's  division,  who  have  written  a  glorious 
introductory  chapter  in  their  history. 

A  DESPERATE  NIGHT  BATTLE. 

About  ten  P.  M.  Hooker's  command  commenced 
throwing  up  breastworks  to  strengthen  their  posi 
tion,  and  to  cover  their  movements,  it  was  found 
necessary  to  advance  their  skirmish  line.  In  doing 
so  the  skirmishers  ran  against  the  rebel  line.  Im 
mediately  after  a  heavy  artillery  and  musketry  fire 
opened  from  both  contestants,  which  lasted  until 
two  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  night  battle  was 
desperate  and  losses  on  both  sides  heavy,  probably 
three  hundred  killed  and  wounded.  At  two  the 
rebels  were  repulsed  along  the  whole  line ;  a 
deafening  cheer  rang  out  on  the  night  air,  and 
all  was  still  save  the  piteous  moans  of  the  dying, 
who  lay  upon  the  bloody  field,  awaiting  with 
anxiety  the  earlv  dawn,  when  they  were  gathered 


184  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

into  the  hospitals  and  every  care  bestowed  upon 
them  by  our  hard  working  surgeons. 

MONDAY,  May  16th. 

The  morning  was  very  bright  and  the  whole  val 
ley  was  filled  with  smoke  and  fog.  At  daylight 
not  a  gun  was  heard.  Newton  immediately  ad 
vanced  to  feel  the  enemy,  and  discovered  that  they 
had  disappeared. 

THE    RETREAT   ACROSS   THE    OSTANAULA. 

Immediately  upon  being  informed  of  the  evacu 
ation  of  the  valley,  General  Howard  informed 
General  Sherman,  and  our  lines  advanced.  It  was 
discovered  that  the  enemy  had  made  good  his  re 
treat,  carrying  off  all  his  artillery,  but  destroying 
his  wagon  trains  by  fire  lest  they  should  fall  into 
our  hands.  I  have  just  made  a  tour  of  the  field 
on  the  left,  and  find  it  covered  with  rebel  dead  and 
wounded,  all  of  whom  were  left  in  our  hands  for 
burial  and  treatment.  Prisoners  at  the  hour  I 
write,  9  A.'  M.,  are  being  brought  in  by  hundreds. 
The  victory  is  complete  so  far,  but  would  have 
been  more  so  had 

M'PHERSON'S  CORPS 

been  able  to  cross  the  river  and  take  a  position  in 
the  rebel  rear.  McPherson  made  several  attempts 
to  throw  down  the  pontoons  and  cross  his  corps, 


AND   HIS    CAMFAIGNS.  185 

but  the  enemy  poured  such  a  raking  fire  into  his 
pontoons  that  the  work  had  to  be  abandoned.  I 
have  no  particulars  of  what  was  accomplished  by 
McPherson's  command,  but  I  learn  that  the  Fif 
teenth  Corps  under  Logan  lost  48  killed  and  448 
wounded. 

OUR   TOTAL   LOSSES 

are  estimated  at  from  4,000  to  5,000,  of  whom  fully 
2,000  are  so  slightly  wounded  in  the  hands  and 
feet  that  they  will  be  fit  for  duty  in  two  or  three 
weeks.  The  killed  will  amount  to  about  800, 
among  whom  are  many  brave  officers,  who  have 
left  behind  them  brilliant  records. 

THE   PRISONERS   IN   OUR   HANDS. 

We  have  taken  nearly  four  thousand  prisoners 
and  deserters,  including  many  colonels,  lieu 
tenant-colonels,  majors,  and  line  and  staff  officers. 
Many  of  them  were  willing  prisoners,  who  re 
mained  in  the  rebel  works  and  surrendered  when 
we  advanced  in  pursuit. 

THE   PURSUIT   OF   JOHNSTON. 

On  the  evacuation  of  the  valley,  the  enemy 
crossed  all  his  cars  and  locomotives  and  burned  five 
spans  of  the  railway  bridge,  which  can  be  repaired 
however,  in  one  or  two  days.  At  nine  this  (Monday) 


186  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

morning,  Hooker's  corps  threw  down  pontoons 
and  crossed  near  Resaca,  while  Schofield  is  cross 
ing  on  the  left  near  Pelton.  The  cavalry  under 
Stoneman  and  McCook,  commenced  the  pursuit 
early  in  the  morning,  and  at  the  present  writing 
they  are  engaging  the  enemy  with  artillery.  Brisk 
firing  can  be  heard,  and  the  rebel  rear  guard  are 
evidently  meeting  with  a  warm  parting  salute  from 
our  cavalry,  which  this  season  is  in  excellent  trim, 
and  superior  to  that  of  former  seasons.  McCook-, 
Stoneman,  and  Kilpatrick  are  dashing  officers,  who 
never  refuse  a  fight,  and  invariably  whip  their  an 
tagonists,  when  the  forces  engaged  are  at  all  equal. 

The  following  partial  account  of  the  battle  of 
Resaca  will  give  to  the  reader  some  interesting 
particulars  not  mentioned  so  fully  in  the  statement 
already  made : 

"  While  the  fight  was  progressing  on  Saturday 
and  Sunday  at  Sugar  Creek,  McPherson  was  en 
gaged  in  shelling  Resaca,  to  interrupt  the  passage 
of  the  rebel  army,  which,  late  in  the  day,  was  ob 
served  to  be  moving  in  long  and  unbroken  trains. 
The  houses,  stores,  depot  buildings  and  telegraph 
office  were  riddled  by  the  exploding  shells  and 
round  shot,  and  the  place  rendered  very  uncomfort 
able.  The  inhabitants,  like  most  of  the  people 
from  Dalton  and  Tilton,  took  the  train  with  their 
household  effects,  provisions,  &c.,  and  went  South. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  187 

The  few  who  remained  stated  that  a  massacre  and 
destruction  of  the  place  was  expected,  from  the 
statement  of  the  rebel  officers  and  men.  The  order 
for  the  army  to  fall  back  was  captured  from  a  rebel 
courier  on  his  way  from  Johnston's  head-quarters, 
and  the  whole  programme  thus  revealed  to  us. 

"  On  the  14th  heavy  fighting  began  on  the  left, 
where  the  rebel  corps  of  Hood  and  Polk  pressed 
hotly  upon  the  lines  of  Generals  Howard  and  Scho- 
field.  Late  in  the  afternoon  Hooker's  Twentieth 
Corps  began  shifting  its  position  towards  the  left 
in  support  of  that  wing  of  the  army.  General  Wil 
liams'  division  took  the  lead  in  this  movement,  and 
by  six  P.  M.  reached  the  main  road  leading  from 
Dalton  to  Resaca.  Here  a  portion  of  Stanley's 
division,  of  the  Fourth  Corps,  was  being  heavily 
engaged,  and  was  evidently  on  the  point  of  being 
repulsed.  General  Williams  immediately  formed 
his  command  in  line  of  battle  along  a  series  of 
heights  running  in  a  direction  perpendicular  to  the 
lines  of  General  Stanley.  The  troops  were  con 
cealed  by  the  dense  timber,  and  were  so  posted  as 
to  overlook  the  narrow,  open  valley  along  which 
the  enemy,  with  defiant  yells,  hotly  pursued  Stan 
ley's  routed  regiments.  The  Fifth  Indiana  battery, 
which  had  been  put  in  position  in  an  open  field 
opposite  Colonel  Robinson's  brigade,  on  the  left  of 
General  Williams'  line,  presented  a  tempting  prize, 


188 

apparently  within  easy  grasp  of  the  enemy.  On 
he  came,  making  directly  for  the  battery,  the  feeble 
supports  of  which  immediately  gave  way.  The 
batterymeri  stood  manfully  by  their  guns,  though 
the  loss  of  them  seemed  inevitable.  The  deep- 
throated  cannon  vomited  a  terrific  fire  upon  the 
advancing  foe,  but  without  checking  him.  The 
enemy  had  approached  within  one  hundred  yards 
of  the  battery  when  General  "Williams  ordered 
Colonel  Robinson  to  throw  his  brigade  forward  into 
the  valley,  and  to  assault  and  take  the  heights 
beyond  it,  which  had  now  fallen  into  rebel  posses 
sion.  "With  tremendous  cheers  the  Third  brigade 
sprang  from  its  covert  in  the  woods,  and  swinging 
upon  the  right  fiank  as  a  pivot,  came  up  in  rear  of 
the  battery,  and  opened  a  sweeping  fire  upon  the 
enemy.  Colonel  Robinson  ordered  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  First  Illinois,  which  was  upon  the  left  of 
his  line,  to  move  immediately  upon  the  wooded  hill 
upon  the  left  of  the  battery,  which  it  did  with  almost 
as  much  precision  and  regularity  of  movement  as 
might  have  been  expected  upon  a  review.  It  was 
a  sublime  movement  throughout,  and  challenged 
the  admiration  of  General  Hooker,  who  declared 
that  the  regiments  moved  as  if  on  parade.  The 
enemy,  completely  disconcerted,  retired  in  disorder 
to  his  intrenchments  in  the  depths  of  the  tangled 
forest.  Darkness  had  now  fallen,  and  though  many 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  189 

prisoners  were  taken,  it  was  extremely  hazardous  to 
pursue  the  enemy. 

"  On  the  15th  it  was  resolved  to  assault  and,  if 
possible,  carry  the  fortified  heights  covering  the 
right  of  the  enemy's  line.  In  this  undertaking,  the 
Fourth,  Twentieth  and  Twenly-third  Corps  were  to 
cooperate.  The  principal  portion  of  the  work,  as 
the  sequel  proves,  was  reserved  for  General  Hook 
er's  command.  At  noon  Butterfield's  division 
began  firing  into  the  dense,  tangled  forest  which 
covered  and  masked  the  enemy's  position.  General 
Geary's  followed,  then  General  "Williams'  in  reserve. 
Butterfield's  men  pressed  forward  vigorously  to  the 
assault,  though  retarded  by  the  thick,  tangled  char 
acter  of  the  woods.  The  Second  and  Third  divi 
sions  swept  bravely  on  up  the  slope,  and,  spite  of 
obstinate  resistance  and  fearful  losses,  carried  the 
enemy's  first  line.  The  assault  of  the  second  was 
at  once  attempted,  but  it  was  too  strongly  fortified 
and  stoutly  defended  to  be  carried.  The  first  line, 
however,  was  held  firmly,  in  spite  of  all  the  enemy's 
desperate  efforts  to  dislodge  our  troops. 

"  General  Williams'  division  was  now  ordered 
to  advance  and  take  its  position  on  the  left  of 
General  Butterfield.  The  division  at  once  moved 
forward  in  line  of  battle,  and,  without  serious 
opposition,  arrived  at  the  prescribed  point  within 
half  an  hour.  The  troops  remained  quietly  in 


190  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

their  position  until  four  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  the 
enemy,  seeing  himself  completely  hemmed  in,  with 
the  Ostanaula  Biver  in  his  rear,  and  his  last  line 
of  works,  covering  Resaca,  almost  within  our  grasp, 
resolved  to  dislodge  General  Williams,  and,  if  pos 
sible,  turn  the  left  flank  of  our  army.  Upon  this 
scheme  rested  Johnston's  forlorn  hope,  since  a 
portion  of  McPherson's  command  had  already 
succeeded  in  crossing  the  Ostanaula  at  Calhoun 
Ferry,  and  again  threatened  the  rear  of  the  rebel 
army.  To  Hood's  rebel  corps  was  assigned  the 
desperate  undertaking  just  mentioned.  Massing 
Stuart's  division  four  lines  deep  along  our  front, 
and  supporting  it  with  strong  reserves,  the  rebel 
general  pushed  his  columns  forward  to  the  assault. 
Colonel  Robinson's  brigade  being  upon  the  extreme 
left  of  the  line,  and- having  a  wide,  open  field  in  its 
front,  received  the  first  onset  of  the  enemy.  As 
soon  as  the  rebels  emerged  from  the  woods,  the 
brave  men  of  the  First,  Second  and  Third  brigades 
opened  a  tremendous  fire  upon  their  advancing 
masses.  The  enemy  checked,  but  not  daunted, 
pressed  steadily  on,  apparently  determined  to  carry 
the  position  at  every  hazard.  Colonel  Robinson's 
brave  men,  with  sweaty,  powder-blackened  faces, 
but  unflinching  hearts,  redoubled  their  exertions, 
and  poured  upon  the  enemy  a  leaden  storm,  such 
as  it  seemed  impossible  to  withstand.  The  enemy 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  191 

returned  the  fire  with  great  energy,  but  at  length 
hesitated,  staggered  and  fell  back.  Then  went  up 
along  the  lines  such  pealing,  heart-stirring  cheers 
as  only  soldiers  can  give  in  the  flush  of  victory. 
But  the  storm  was  not  yet  over.  The  enemy  rallied 
again  behind  his  woody  covert,  and  once  more  ad 
vanced  to  the  assault.  Though  he  received  a  like 
greeting  as  before,  his  lines  swept  impetuously  on, 
apparently  goaded  by  a  resolution  stronger  than 
death.  The  field  became  strewed  with  his  wounded 
and  dead,  and  his  advancing  lines  grew  thinner  and 
thinner.  There  was  no  quailing  in  the  Union  ranks. 
Standing  firm  in  their  places,  the  brave  defenders 
of  human  liberty  seemed  resolved  not  to  yield. 
The  enemy  came  on  within  fifty  yards  of  their 
lines  before  he  became  convinced  of  the  impossi 
bility  of  driving  General  Williams'  heroes  from 
their  positions.  Then  he  turned  and  fled,  leaving 
his  killed  and  wounded,  one  battle-flag  and  hun 
dreds  of  small  arms  lying  upon  the  field.  A  num 
ber  of  the  enemy  who  found  it  almost  certain  death 
to  retreat  in  the  face  of  our  fire,  surrendered  as 
prisoners  of  war. 

"Night  now  drew  her  sable  curtain  over  the  scene 
of  carnage,  as  if  to  vail  its  horrors  from  the  sight 
of  men  and  angels.  The  fighting  entirely  ceased, 
and  the  stillness  was  broken  only  by  the  melancholy 
voice  of  the  whip-poor-will,  and  by  the  piercing 


192 

cries  of  the  rebel  wounded,  who  lay  uncared  for 
between  the  hostile  lines.  The  brave  men  who  had 
fought  so  well  could  not  listen  to  these  sounds 
of  distress  indifferently.  They  sallied  forth,  even 
far  beyond  the  picket  lines,  and  brought  in  and 
tenderly  cared  for  the  poor  victims  of  a  fiendish 
rebellion." 

INCIDENTS  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  RESACA. 

After  storming  a  portion  of  the  rebel  works,  by 
Butterfield's  division,  on  the  15th,  as  heretofore 
described,  and  while  our  men  were  crouching 
about  the  fort,  and  protecting  the  captured  guns, 
a  man  from  the  Seventieth  Indiana  regiment  sud 
denly  exposed  himself  to  that  close  and  terrible 
source  of  destruction,  the  rebel's  line  of  masked 
breastworks,  "Shoot!"  and  with  an  oath  repeated 
"shoot!"  The  defiance  was  answered,  and  he  fell 
dead  with  an  oath  on  his  lips  and  a  bullet  in  his 
heart,  and  thus  passed  into  eternity. 

A  Confederate  soldier,  who  had  been  captured 
during  the  battle,  and  brought  into  the  presence 
of  General  Sherman,  without  knowing  that  he  was 
standing  before  Sherman,  said :  "  The  Confederates 
had  a  great  horror  of  old  Sherman's  flank  move- 
ments,  that  they  could  not  find  a  position  that  he 
could  not  flank  them  out  of  it ;  they  believed  that 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  .    193 

he  could  outflank  the  devil,  and  that  he  must  have 
come  into  the  world  by  a  flank  movement.'7 

General  Dan.  Sickles  was  present  during  tlje 
battle  of  the  14th  and  15th,  on  a  special  mission  to 
which  he  had  been  assigned  by  the  President.  He 
was  in  the  saddle  both  days  from  morning  till 
night,  and  was  everywhere  conspicuous  where  the 
fighting  was  the  hardest.  General  Hooker,  seeing 
how  recklessly  he  exposed  himself,  said  to  him : 
"Dan,  you  must  go  back;  we  want  to  save  that 
other  leg  of  yours."  Sickles  did  not  take  the  ad 
vice,  but  remained  on  the  field.  As  he  rode  along 
our  lines,  he  was  frequently  applauded  and  cheered 
by  our  troops.  "  Who's  that  ?"  one  would  ask. 
Another  would  reply,  "  That  is  Dan  Sickles,  the 
man  who  saved  the  army  at  Chancellorsville." 
Sickles'  staff  volunteered  their  services,  and  were 
actively  employed  on  Hooker's  and  Butterfield's 
staffs  during  the  battle. 
Q 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SHERMAN'S  GREAT  CAMPAIGN  FROM  CHATTANOOGA  TO 
ATLANTA. 

THE  PURSUIT  OF  THE  ENEMY THEIR  WOUNDED ORDER 

OF     THE     PURSUIT AN    AMBUSCADE FIGHTING    AND 

SKIRMISHING AN    ACCOUNT     BY    AN     EYE-WITNESS 

CAPTURE      OF      ROME,      KINGSTON      AND      CASSVILLE  — 

GUERRILLA      OPERATIONS MOVEMENT      ACROSS      THE 

ETOWAH SKIRMISHING LOSS     OF     WAGONS THE 

GALLANT    ACTION     OF     THE     TWENTY-FIFTH  INST. AN 
OTHER  AMBUSCADE SHERMAN'S    OBJECT  —  A    FURIOUS 

ASSAULT OCCUPATION    OF    DALLAS THE    SITUATION 

ON  JUNE  FIRST SHERMAN'S  STRATEGY — THE    ENEMY 

ABANDONED    THEIR    WORKS SHERMAN'S    DISPATCH — • 

WHAT    THE     ARMY     HAD    ACCOMPLISHED  —  CHARACTER 
OF    SHERMAN INCIDENTS. 

On  Monday,  the  day  after  the  battle  of  Resaca, 
the  army  was  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  Our  forces 
moved  in  three  grand  columns,  sweeping  the 
country  for  twenty  miles.  The  wounded  and  dead 
of  the  enemy  were  scattered  along  the  road  and 
in  the  edges  of  the  woods,  where  temporary  hospi 
tals  had  been  established.  They  were  taken  to 
our  hospitals,  in  the  rear,  where  our  surgeons  did 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  195 

all  they  could  to  relieve  their  sufferings.  The  in 
humanity  of  the  men  who  have  lifted  their  rebel 
lious  hands  against  the  Government  and  the  civili 
zation  of  the  age,  to  the  dupes  of  their  folly,  is  not 
to  be  envied,  and  will  make  a  dark  chapter  in 
history.  The  kindness  of  our  Government  to  the 
unfortunate  and  suffering,  although  not  what  it 
should  have  been  in  very  many  instances,  will 
afford  a  most  striking  contrast. 

As  above  stated,  the  army  was  in  motion  by  noon 
of  Monday.  The  general  order  of  the  march  was 
as  it  had  been  previous  to  the  affair  at  liesaca :  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee  was  on  the  right;  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  in  the  centre,  and  the 
Army  of  the  Ohio  on  the  left ;  of  course  we  mean 
so  much  of  the  army  as  was  then  engaged  in  the 
pursuit.  There  are  three  good  roads,  in  addition 
to  the  railroad,  leading  south  from  Resaca  to  the 
Etowah  River.  Several  other  roads  cross  there,  by 
means  of  which,  at  several  points  between  Resaca 
and  the  Etowah,  the  armies  could  be  concentrated. 
The  roads  that  run  in  a  southern  direction,  and  along 
which  our  forces  moved,  wind  through  valleys  and 
are  separated  from  each  other  by  ranges  of  moun 
tains.  The  difficulty  of  a  rapid  pursuit  was  great; 
the  enemy  had  great  advantages  in  the  retreat. 
"When  about  three  miles  south  of  the  Ostanaula, 
General  Sweeney's  division  of  the  Sixteenth  Corps 


196  MAJ.  GEN. 

fell  into  an  ambuscade.  The  troops  moved  into 
a  large  open  field  sheltered  by  the  woods.  It  was 
not  supposed  that  the  enemy  were  in  any  con 
siderable  force  on  our  front.  The  brigade  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Burke,  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Illi 
nois  regiment,  was  ordered  forward  to  take  a 
position  on  the  left.  They  had  proceeded  but  a 
short  distance,  when  the  enemy  opened  fire  with 
artillery.  Colonel  Burke  was  mortally  wounded 
and  taken  from  the  field.  The  whole  force  of 
General  Dodge  fell  back  until  it  met  Osterhaus's 
division  coming  up  on  the  double  quick  to  their 
support. 

The  following  morning,  at  five  o'clock,  the  Sev 
enteenth  Corps  marched,  the  Fifteenth  Corps 
leading.  Morgan  L.  Smith's  division  was  in 
advance.  In  our  front  was  Hardee's  Corps, 
said  to  be  commanded  by  Generals  Morgan  and 
"Walker.  About  three  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon, 
the  rebel  cavalry  drew  up  in  line,  in  our  front.  The 
rain  was  falling  in  torrents.  They  were  charged 
upon  by  the  Fifth  Kentucky,  and  at  once  they  re 
treated  into  the  woods  just  in  their  rear.  General 
Lightburn  sent  forward  his  skirmishers.  The  rebels 
opened  on  them  with  artillery.  He  then  de 
ployed  the  other  troops  of  his  brigade,  and  General 
W.  S.  Smith  sent  forward  the  First  brigade  and 
Lee  Grasse's  battery.  Logan  moved  up  Herron's 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  197 

division  on  the  left,  and  Osterhaus  took  position 
behind  Morgan  L.  Smith.  After  a  few  shots  from 
our  battery,  the  rear-guard  of  the  enemy  again  re 
treated.  After  following  and  skirmishing  about  a 
mile,  our  advance  reached  Rocky  Creek,  and  se 
cured  the  intersection  of  the  road  to  Adairsville. 
An  eye-witness  of  this  affair  informs  us,  that  "  soon 
after  the  commencement  of  the  skirmish  on  the 
Pine  Road,  heavy  cannonading  was  heard  from 
Howard's  column  in  the  valley  east  of  us.  His  fire 
was  heavy,  especially  of  artillery,  and  sounded 
almost  like  a  general  engagement.  The  Fourth 
Corps,  moving  down  that  road  as  the  center 
column,  had  overtaken  the  enemy  and  was  en 
gaged.  The  division  of  General  Newton,  formerly 
Sheridan's,  was  in  advance,  with  the  brigade  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Frank  T.  Sherman,  Eighty- 
eighth  Illinois,  in  the  immediate  front,  Frank's 
brigade,  with  Miller's  brigade,  were  heavily  en 
gaged  for  some  time,  loosing  165  killed  and 
wounded,  the  Eighty-eighth  Illinois  loosing  34 
and  the  Seventy-fourth  Illinois  55.  The  enemy 
were  finally  driven  into  their  intrenchments  at 
Adairsville. 

"  The  result  of  the  day's  work  left  the  center  in 
front  of  the  enemy  in  Adairsville.  The  head  of 
General  McPherson's  column  was  resting  on  the 
Adairsville  Road,  whence  it  could  strike  Johnston 


198  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

from  the  west,  and  the  Sixteenth  Corps  was  at  an 
other  cross  road  from  the  Rome  to  the  Adairsville 
Road.  Hardee  had  passed  over  the  mountain  to 
Adairsville  where  Johnston  was  in  person.  Early 
in  the  morning  the  Fifteenth  Corps  moved  by  the 
Rocky  Creek  Road  towards  Adairsville,  General 
Dodge  moving  on  the  other  cross  roads.  There 
were  indications  that  Johnston  intended  to  make  a 
stand  at  that  place.  Johnston  saw  the  trap  and 
departed  in  the  night  time.  Sherman's  strategy 
was  again  successful.  His  columns  had  been  so 
marched  that  in  three  hours  he  was  able  to  con 
centrate  them  in  case  the  rebels  would  receive 
battle. 

"  The  grand  army  presented  a  most  splendid 
military  pageant  as  it  entered  Adairsville.  Leav 
ing  Adairsville,  the  right  wing  passed  over  a  very 
high  mountain,  reaching  the  Kingston  Road  at 
"Woodville  about  midnight.  The  centre  and  left 
moved  simultaneously  on  parallel  roads.  When 
the  right  wing  left  the  Rome  Road  in  the  morning, 
the  Second  cavalry  division,  General  Gerrard, 
moved  forward  on  the  Kingston  Road.  Near 
"Woodland,  his  advance,  the  Fourth  Michigan  cav 
alry,  found  the  enemy's  cavalry  in  considerable 
force,  and  disposed  to  wait  his  advance.  The 
valley  in  which  they  were  was  narrow,  and  the 
roadside  a  considerable  part  of  the  way  woods,  so 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  199 

that  only  a  small  force  could  be  used.  The  two 
battalions  of  the  Michigan  cavalry  understood  the 
business  and  acquitted  themselves  right  gallantly. 
The  rebels  concealed  themselves  in  the  bushes  and 
behind  the  fences  and  houses  along  the  roadside, 
and  fired  upon  our  cavalry.  But  nothing  checked 
the  impetuosity  or  courage  of  the  troops.  It 
charged  the  rebels  and  drove  them  from  every 
hiding  place,  and  killed  and  wounded  a  large  num 
ber  of  them.  The  rebels  fled  in  consternation. 
The  Fourth  Michigan  lost  one  killed  and  eleven 
wounded.  As  we  rode  into  Kingston  the  next 
morning  we  saw  the  evidences  of  their  splendid 
fighting,  dead  horses  and  new  made  graves  mark 
ing  a  distance  of  more  than  four  miles,  over  which 
your  Michigan  soldiers  drove  them.  On  the  18th 
we  moved  into  and  about  Kingston.  During  the 
same  day  Jeff.  C.  Davis,  with  his  division,  who  left 
the  main  army  on  the  16th  at  Resaca,  entered 
Rome  and  captured  the  foundries  and  arsenals 
there,  and  a  large  amount  of  commissary  stores. 
In  the  night  a  train  of  cars  arrived  over  the  railroad 
to  Kingston." 

Rome  is  situated  at  the  confluence  of  the  Osta- 
naula  and  Etowah  Rivers,  which  form  the  Coosa 
River.  Kingston  and  Cassville  are  three  or  four 
miles  north  of  the  Etowah,  and  about  twelve  miles 
east  of  Rome. 


200  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Here  about  two  days  were  devoted  to  rest,  which 
seemed  to  be  absolutely  necessary,  after  the  fa 
tiguing  marches,  battle  and  skirmishes  heretofore 
described. 

On  the  23d,  the  Fourteenth  Army  Corps  lost 
twenty-five  wagons  near  Kingston. 

After  resting  and  perfecting  arrangements  for 
an  advance,  the  forces  of  Generals  Thomas,  Scho- 
field  and  McPherson  were  ordered  across  the  Eto- 
wah  Hiver,  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy.  They 
were  provided  with  twenty  days  rations,  and  the 
commissariat  and  quartermaster's  department  were 
to  be  supplied  from  the  country.  Indiscriminate 
plundering  was  strictly  prohibited,  and  foraging 
parties  were  organized  for  the  purpose  of  collecting 
provisions,  giving  receipts  for  the  same,  and  dis 
tributing  them  to  the  army. 

At  the  dawn  of  daylight  on  the  23d,  the  tents  of 
Hooker's  corps  were  struck.  Says  one  who  wit 
nessed  the  movement  of  this  force  :  "  Soon  after 
daylight  the  star  corps,  with  their  long  trains  of 
of  white-topped  wagons,  were  wending  their  way 
through  the  forests  and  over  the  hills  and  valleys 
of  Georgia.  On  we  went,  along  the  yellow,  dirty 
roads,  through  plowed  fields,  where  grew  hills  of 
young  corn,  never  to  be  gathered — through  green 
fields  of  ripening  grain — never  to  be  harvested — 
through  gardens  and  door  yards,  whence  flowers 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  201 

were  plucked  only  to  adorn  the  soldiers  dusty 
caps  —  over  rocky,  gravelly,  sandy  soil,  which  re 
flected  the  scorching  heat  of  the  sun,  and  gave 
forth  clouds  of  yellow  dust — past  wells  and  springs, 
where  there  were  ten  thirsty  soldiers  eagerly 
clutching  at  every  cupfull  of  water — over  stony 
hills,  and  through  shady  dells,  amidst  the  grateful 
foliage  of  the  odorous  young  pines  and  broad 
leafed  elms,  where  woodbines  flaunt  their  gay  flo 
ral  clusters  and  the  more  modest  forest  gems  peep 
above  the  gravelly  slopes  and  hide  behind  the 
graceful  fronds  of  the  blooming  fern. 

"  Regiment  after  regiment,  brigade  after  brigade, 
division  after  division — infantry,  cavalry  and  artil 
lery — red,  white  and  blue,  start  in  one  glorious 
galaxy,  pursue  their  resistless  course  across  the 
sacred  soil  of  Georgia — a  grand  and  hopeful  sign 
to  us,  but  one  full  of  dire  portent  and  ominous  of 
desolation  to  the  wicked  instigators  of  this  reckless 
rebellion. 

The  bridges  leading  across  the  Etowah  and 
Coosa  Rivers  had  been  burned  by  the  enemy. 
This,  however,  caused  but  little  delay,  as  the  pon 
ton  iers  soon  threw  bridges  across  the  rivers. 
One  wing  of  Sherman's  army  crossed  the  Etowah, 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  23d.  General  Schofield's 
Corps  after  crossing  the  river  moved  off  to  the  left. 
General  Hascal  was  in  command  of  Brigadier 


202  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

General  Manson's  brigade,  as  the  latter  had 
not  recovered  from  the  wound  received  at  the  battle 
of  Resaca. 

After  crossing  the  river  the  forces  proceeded  in 
line  of  battle.  Our  advance  skirmished  with  the 
enemy  during  part  of  the  day.  Several  of  our 
men  were  wounded  by  their  shells.  Cannonading 
was  heard,  at  intervals,  all  along  the  lines. 

On  the  24th,  skirmishing  was  quite  frequent, 
and  during  the  night,  as  many  as  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  wagons  were  captured  from  the 
Twenty-third  Corps,  by  Wheeler's  troopers. 

The  enemy  under  command  of  the  rebel  Gen 
erals  Hood  and  Polk,  were  driven  into  their  strong 
retreat  on  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  in  one  of  the 
gaps  in  the  Altoona  mountains,  where  they  took 
shelter  behind  their  breastworks.  This  engage 
ment  commenced  about  two  o'clock  P.  M.  on  the 
25th,  and  continued  with  great  fury  for  about  two 
hours. 

The  enemy  were  driven  through  the  woods  a 
distance  of  one  mile  and  a  half,  with  very  consi 
derable  loss  on  both  sides.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  fight,  General  Geary's  First  division  of  the 
Twentieth  Corps  engaged  the  enemy.  He  was 
soon  reenforced  by  Generals  "Williams'  and  Butter- 
field's  divisions.  General  Hooker  finally  ordered 
a  bayonet  charge,  and  the  men  rushed  forward 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  203 

with  a  shout  and  drove  the  enemy  out  of  one  of 
their  lines.  Towards  evening,  a  severe  storm  was 
raging,  during  which,  amid  the  darkness,  several 
of  our  soldiers  were  lost. 

The  next  morning  skirmishing  was  renewed. 
The  enemy  was  again  forced  back,  and  rapidly 
followed  by  our  forces.  Suddenly  Geary's  Second 
division  received  a  destructive  fire  from  the  woods 
on  the  flank.  They  had  been  lured  into  an  am 
buscade,  and  masked  batteries  were  opened  upon 
our  men  with  destructive  effect.  Hooker  and  staff 
received  a  volley  which  killed  one  of  the  escort. 
Our  loss  was  heavy. 

The  object  of  these  engagements  seemed  to. have 
been  to  hold  and  keep  the  enemy  engaged,  while 
McPherson  with  the  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth  and  Sev 
enteenth  Corps  should  get  on  the  enemy's  flank  at 
Dallas.  On  the  28th  our  army  was  in  position  in 
front  of  the  enemy,  strongly  posted  four  miles 
from  Dallas. 

The  next  day  the  enemy  massed  his  forces  for 
an  assault  on  our  works, -which  had  been  hastily 
erected.  The  fighting  was  terrible,  and  the  slaugh 
ter  of  the  enemy  great.  He  was  driven  back  in 
confusion.  At  the  same  time  a  powerful  attack 
was  made  on  McPherson  on  the  right.  This 
was  repulsed,  the  enemy  losing  in  killed  and 
wounded  not  less  than  2,000,  probably  many  more. 


204 

A  correspondent  of  one  of  our  public  journals 
gives  the  following  interesting  account  of  the 
attack  and  repulse  of  the  enemy  : 

"  About  five  in  the  afternoon  the  rebels  advanced 
their  skirmishers  along  the  whole  front  of  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee.  Our  front  was  covered 
with  a  rifle-pit  extending  along  its  whole  length,  a 
distance  of  some  two  miles,  and  the  right  flank  by 
"Wilder's  brigade  of  the  Second  cavalry  division. 
Harrow's  Fourth  division  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps 
had  the  extreme  right  of  the  line,  and  Yeatch's, 
the  Fourth  division  of  the  Sixteenth  Corps,  the 
extreme  left — the  centre,  consisting  of  Sweeney's 
division  of  the  Sixteenth  and  Morgan  L.  Smith's 
and  Osterhaus'  division  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps. 

"  The  enemy  advancing  a  heavy  line  of  skirmish 
ers,  in  a  short  time  fell  back  to  the  rifle-pits.  Our 
troops  of  the  main  army,  who  were  quietly  observ 
ing  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  at  the  first  vol 
ley  of  the  skirmishers,  fell  instantly  into  their 
places  behind  the  breastworks.  General  and  field 
and  staff  and  line  officers  sprang  to  their  posts,  and 
in  less  time  than  I  occupy  in  narrating,  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee  was  in  line  to  receive  assault. 
Two  miles  of  as  good  men  as  ever  stood  in  line  of 
battle,  all  Western  regiments  but  one,  confronted 
Hardee's  and  Folk's  Corps.  For  the  first  time  in 
the  war,  with  nearly  all  the  regiments,  our  men 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  205 

were  behind  breastworks  and  being  attacked.  It 
had  carried  many  a  one  such  as  the  rude  work  of 
logs  before  them.  It  had  also  charged  up  to  the 
strong  works  of  Yicksburg  and  Jackson.  But 
now  they  were  to  be  charged,  and  some  wondered 
if  as  they  had  always  driven  the  rebels  from  similar 
works,  they  could  be  held  by  our  Western  men. 

"  Although  it  was  well  understood  that  the 
movement  of  the  trains  had  attracted  the  notice 
of  the  rebels,  and  would  very  probably  induce  the 
belief  that  our  positions  were  being  changed,  and 
that  an  attack  was  very  probable,  yet  the  attack 
was  so  sudden  and  so  rapid  that  it  was  necessary 
to  make  haste  quickly  with  orders  and  dispositions. 

"  General  Logan  at  the  first  volley  mounted  his 
horse,  and  rode  rapidly  along  to  the  front.  Fol 
lowing  close  after  our  skirmishers,  as  they  fell  back 
to  rifle-pits,  came  the  rebel  lines  of  battle.  "With 
a  rebel  yell  they  rushed  headlong,  charging  bravely 
on  the  whole  line,  at  the  same  time  under  a  heavy 
fire  of  artillery.  Under  the  orders  of  their  offi 
cers,  these  troops  reserved  their  fire  and  awaited 
the  shock.  Logan  rode  along  the  whole  line  of 
his  corps,  hat  in  hand,  his  black  hair  streaming  in 
the  air,  and  at  full  speed,  urging  his  men  at  the 
top  of  his  voice,  to  "  save  their  fire  and  give  them 
h  — 11."  The  effect  was  electrical,  the  regiments 
cheered  with  a  will,  and  one  could  mark  his 
R 


206  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

progress  along  the  line  by  the  shouts  of  his 
regiments. 

"  Soon  after  General  McPherson  and  his  staff 
rode  from  his  headquarters,  on  the  left  of  the  Six- 
*eenth  Corps,  along  the  whole  line.  The  battle  was 

,  ing  furiously,  but  the  men  saw  their  command 
er,  and  their  cheers  arose  wildly  upon  the  din  of 
battle.  Altogether,  that  short  hour,  with  the  en 
thusiastic  shouts  of  the  Federals,  the  fierce  yells 
of  the  rebels,  and  the  continuous  crash  of  small 
arms,  was  fearfully  exciting. 

"  The  Federal  line  reserved  its  fire  until  the 
rebels  were  within  thirty  yards.  The  first  volley 
was  instantaneous.  It  seemed  to  leap  from  the 
long  line  of  rifle-pits  at  the  moment  of  time.  Such 
another  single  volley  of  musketry  has  seldom  been 
heard.  The  volley  from  the  rear  flank  followed, 
and  the  battle  was  opened.  The  rebels  fell  like 
grain — scores  at  a  time  lay  side  by  side.  The 
battle  lasted  until  night.  It  was  mostly  confined  to 
infantry.  In  the  line  of  the  Second  division,  Gen 
eral  Giles  A.  Smith  had  placed  a  section  of  battery 
B,  First  artillery,  which,  double-shotted  with  grape, 
made  great  havoc.  On  Harris'  line  a  section  of  the 
First  Iowa  battery  was  at  the  front.  The  re 
mainder  of  the  artillery  was  on  the  high  ground 
back  of  the  line  of  battle.  In  the  close  struggle 
for  the  rifle-pits,  it  could  not  be  used  without 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  207 

injuring  alike  friend  and  toe.  How  and  in  what 
manner  the  terrible  struggle  of  the  rebels  to 
drive  in  the  right  wing  was  conducted,  I  cannot 
tell  you.  All  we  know  is  that  they  repeatedly  re 
formed  and  renewed  the  assaults,  and  with  the 
utmost  desperation  charged  up  to  the  very  muzzles 
of  our  rifles,  and  that  these  ineffectual  assaults  and 
struggles  were  renewed  until  the  rebel  force,  all 
cut  up,  was  withdrawn.  On  the  extreme  right  the 
rebels,  at  one  turn,  gained  a  slight  advantage.  The 
Second  brigade  was  slightly  shattered,  and  a  sec 
tion  of  the  First  Iowa  battery  captured.  Just  at 
this  time  General  Logan  rode  up  and  ordered  the 
guns  to  be  recaptured.  The  Sixth  Iowa  charged 
the  enemy  and  retook  the  guns.  The  brigade  suf 
fered  severely.  Colonel  Dickerman,  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Third  Illinois,  fell  mortally  wounded. 
Major  Giesy,  of  the  Forty-sixth  Ohio,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Miller,  of  the  Sixth  Iowa,  fell  mor 
tally  wounded.  In  the  front  of  the  brigade  272 
dead  and  wounded  rebels  lay  in  sight  at  daylight. 
Wilder's  brigade  of  mounted  infantry,  which  was 
on  the  right  flank,  was  dismounted,  and  came  up 
and  poured  in  a  continuous  oblique  fire  from  the 
sixteen  shooting  rifles.  The  rebel  loss  in  his  front 
was  heavy.  At  one  place  in  front  of  Lightburn's 
brigade,  twenty-one  dead  rebels  lay  in  one  heap. 
In  the  front  of  Yeatch's  division,  a  portion  of  the 


208  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

rebel  line  was  staggered,  and  its  left  fell  back  to 
the  right.  As  it  fell  back,  General  Dodge  saw  the 
opportunity  and  ordered  a  regiment  over  the  breast 
works.  The  regiment  delivered  an  oblique  fire 
that  left  over  a  hundred  on  the  field. 

"  General  Dodge  buried  160  in  his  front.  Con 
sidered  in  all  respects,  the  desperate  valor  of  the 
rebels,  the  rapidity  and  pertinacity  of  the  assaults, 
the  coolness  and  steadiness  with  which  our  men 
and  officers  received  and  repulsed  them,  the  slight 
loss  of  our  army,  and  the  terrible  slaughter  of  the 
rebels,  it  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  battles 
of  the  war. 

"  Our  loss  did  not  reach  100.  The  rebel  loss 
cannot  be  ascertained  by  us  with  certainty.  About 
the  close  of  the  engagement  a  rebel  officer  shouted 
to  General  Morgan  L.  Smith,  that  General  Hardee 
wished  the  firing  stopped  that  he  might  bring 
off  his  wounded.  He  was  answered  by  General 
McPherson's  order,  that  if  he  would  send  a  flag  he 
would  answer  it.  During  the  night  all  the  rebel 
wounded  that  could,  crawled  back  into  their  lines. 
As  soon  as  it  was  light  the  next  morning  our  men 
commenced  burying  the  rebel  dead  and  bringing 
in  the  rebel  wounded,  but  were  frequently  fired 
upon,  so  that  their  interment  was  by  no  means 
completed.  We  buried,  however,  during  the  day 
450  rebels.  At  that  amount  alone,  their  loss  must 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  209 

have  reached  at  least  2,000  in  killed  and  wounded. 
Estimating  six  wounded  to  one  killed,  I  think  that 
3,000  is  a  reasonable  estimate  of  the  rebel  loss  in 
their  assault  upon  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

"  A  deserter,  who  came  in  to-day,  says  he  heard 
General  Hardee  say  that  he  had  lost  2,500  of  his 
best  men.  The  rebel  officers  and  men  who  have 
fallen  into  our  hands  all  stated  that  they  had  been 
informed,  and  believed,  that  our  army  was,  to  a 
very  great  extent,  composed  of  100  days'  men. 
They  did  not  expect  to  meet  the  veterans  of  the 
Western  Army. 

."I  regret  to  record  a  severe  casualty  to  Colonel 
Ezra  Taylor,  of  Chicago,  chief  of  artillery  of  the 
Department  of  the  Tennessee.  As  he  was  riding 
along  the  lines  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  with  Gen 
eral  Logan,  this  afternoon,  a  rifle  ball  struck  Gen 
eral  Logan  on  the  arm,  tearing  his  coat  sleeve,  and 
glancing,  struck  Colonel  Taylor.  The  ball  passed 
through  his  coat,  a  thick  book,  and  entering  at  the 
right  nipple,  passed  around  next  to  the  bones,  and 
lodged  under  the  edge  of  the  shoulder-blade.  The 
wound  is  severe,  but  not  dangerous.  He  starts  for 
his  home  to-night.  Colonel  Taylor  is  a  faithful, 
hard-working,  and  very  competent  officer.  He  is 
much  esteemed  by  his  superior  officers,  and  Ms  loss 
to  the  service  is  just  now  unfortunate/' 

On  the  31st,  the  enemy  made  a  feeble  attack  on 


210  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

our  line,  and  were  repulsed.     On  Thursday  noon 
we  entered  Dallas. 

A  letter  writer,  who  was  with  the  army  at  the 
time,  gives  the  following  account  of  the  situation 
on  June  1st : 

"  DALLAS,  Ga.,  June  1st. 

"  Since  the  night  of  the  29th  of  May,  when  the 
rebels"  made  so  furious  an  attack  on  our  lines,  and 
were  so  gallantly  repulsed,  nothing  of  special  note 
has  occurred.  The  little  excitement  attendant  on 
an  expected  change  of  the  line  of  attack,  involving 
a  retreat  from  this  position,  has  died  away,  though 
the  trains  of  several  corps  have  been  already 
'  hauled  out'  on  the  Marietta  Road  in  the  direction 
indicated.  McPherson's  guns  are  occasionally 
heard  on  our  extreme  right,  and  those  of  Howard 
and  Schofield  more  frequently  on  our  left.  The 
position  of  the  contending  armies  is  in  the  high, 
rolling  and  heavily  timbered  region  near  the  sources 
of  those  numerous  streams  which,  flowing  in  oppo 
site  directions,  supply  the  waters  of  the  Etowah  on 
the  north,  and  the  Chattahoochee  on  the  southeast. 
The  ravines  and  hollows  thus  formed  are  compara 
tively  safe  and  excellent  retreats  for  our  ambulance 
wagons,  saddle  horses,  &c. 

"  We  are  now  about  twenty-five  miles  from  our 
railroad  base  of  communications  and  supplies  at 
Kingston,  the  rebels  being  about  sixteen  miles  from 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  211 

their  railroad  base  at  Marietta,  on  the  Kingston 
and  Atlanta  Railroad. 

"  Our  lines  extend  in  a  bold  curve  from  north 
west  to  southeast,  the  right  including  Dallas,  and 
the  left  resting  on  and  including  Burnt  Hickory. 
Our  lines  of  fortifications,  consisting  of  successive 
tiers  of  breastworks,  redoubts,  earthworks,  &c., 
erected  along  this  curve  about  fourteen  miles.  The 
position  of  the  rebels  confronts  ours.  Both  par 
ties  are  continually  throwing  up  new  works,  and 
constructing  additional  defenses,  forts,  &c.  The 
tops  of  the  intervening  hills  are  torn  into  shreds, 
or  cut  clean  off  by  the  iron  storms.  Yesterday 
a  nest  of  sharp-shooters  who,  under  cover  of  a 
house,  had  been  annoying  the  men  of  Butter- 
field's  division,  came  under  the  observation  of  that 
general,  and  very  soon  received  the  attention  of 
the  most  valuable  battery,  which  demolished  the 
house  in  a  twinkling  about  the  ears  of  the  aston 
ished  rebs,  and  scattered  the  rascals  like  chaff. 
Their  sharp-shooters,  perched  in  trees  and  every 
possible  place  of  ambuscade,  have  been  and  still  are 
a  source  of  great  annoyance,  and  have  contributed 
much  to  the  casualties  of  our  men. 

"  The  head-quarters  of  several  generals  have  been 
occasionally  moved  on  account  of  shells  and  other 
missiles,  which  somehow  find  their  way  everywhere. 
The  other  day  a  shell  burst  at  General  Thomas' 


212  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SEEEMAN, 

head-quarters,  scattering  the  tents  and  furniture, 
and  killing  or  wounding  one  man,  and  playing 
smash  generally.  Generals  Hooker  and  Butterfield 
have  had  equally  narrow  escapes.  One  man  was 
killed  while  getting  water  from  a  spring  near  the 
head-quarters  of  the  latter. 

"  Use  renders  these  men  cool  and  even  callous 
in  the  presence  of  these  messengers  of  death. 
Yesterday  a  man  on  the  skirmish  line  received  a 
ball  in  the  cheek,  which  came  out  behind  his  ear, 
through  the  strong  cords  of  the  neck.  .  A  stretcher 
was  brought,  but  he  kicked  it  over,  with  an  oath, 
walked  to  the  surgeon,  and  had  his  wound  probed 
and  dressed,  and  returned  to  his  company,  swear 
ing  he  would  '  make  the  rebs  pay  for  that.3  He  was 
from  an  Eastern  regiment." 

The  rebel  General  Johnston  had  selected  a  posi 
tion  of  great  natural  strength,  near  his  base  of 
supplies,  and  had  one  railroad  and  three  good 
wagon  roads  over  which  he  could  move.  His  army 
had  been  reenforced  by  all  available  troops,  and  he 
was  undoubtedly  anxious  that  Sherman  would  risk 
a  general  engagement.  Here  Sherman  again 
evinced  his  good  generalship,  by  determining  not 
to  attack  Johnston  in  his  intrenchments,  but  by 
flank  movements  to  force  him  into  the  open  field. 
Accordingly  the  movement  was  ordered  to  be  from 
the  right  to  the  left  of  our  line.  The  trains  were 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  213 

moved  east,  and  in  the  rear  of  the  troops.  The 
first  movement  was  made  with  great  success  on 
the  3d  of  June.  A  division  of  the  Sixteenth  Corps 
moved  in  the  night  to  a  line  of  rifle-pits  and  re 
doubts  on  a  commanding  position,  about  three 
miles  northeast  of  the  extreme  right.  The  division 
was  thus  on  a  position  to  cover  the  withdrawal  of 
the  remainder  of  the  right  wing  at  daylight.  Soon 
after  dawn  General  Logan  commenced  moving  his 
corps.  It  was  expected  that  this  movement  could 
not  be  made  without  an  attack  from  the  enemy. 
The  Fifteenth  Corps  moved  so  as  to  be  in  constant 
readiness  to  resist  any  attack  that  might  be  made. 
But  for  some  reason,  probably  ignorance  of  the 
movement,  our  forces  were  not  molested.  In  fact, 
it  is  said  that  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  kept  up 
firing  in  the  woods  some  time  after  our  pickets, 
under  Colonel  Parry,  of  the  Forty-seventh  Ohio 
regiment,  were  withdrawn.  Yeatch's  division,  of 
the  Sixteenth  Corps,  followed  the  Fifteenth  as  far 
as  the  intrenchments  held  by  Sweeny,  and  Jeff.  C. 
Davis'  division,  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps,  moved 
along  a  parallel  road  of  his  own  construction,  in 
the  same  direction  with  Logan.  This  movement 
was  made  with  the  greatest  celerity  and  precision, 
and  gave  to  the  army  a  stronger  position  and 
stronger  front.  As  soon  as  the  enemy  discovered 
the  movement  of  our  army,  he  evacuated  his  works 


214  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

in  our  front.  General  Logan's  skirmishers  found 
the  works  abandoned,  except  by  a  few  pickets,  who 
were  captured.  The  skirmishers  of  the  Fourteenth 
Corps  were  firing  into  the  works,  which  they  sup 
posed  sheltered  thousands  of  rebels,  when,  to  their 
great  astonishment,  they  discovered  the  American 
flag  floating  over  the  enemy's  intrenchments. 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  at  daylight,  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee  marched  to  Ackworth,  and 
thus  Sherman's  strategy  was  successful. 

On  the  7th,  General  Sherman  sent  the  following 
dispatch  to  the  "War  Department,  at  Washington  : 

"I  have  been  to  Altoona  Pass  and  find  it  very 
admirable  for  our  purpose.  It  is  the  gate  through 
the  last  or  most  eastern  sphere  of  the  Alleghanies. 
It  now  becomes  as  useful  to  us  as  it  was  to  the 
enemy,  being  easily  defended  from  either  direc 
tion.  The  roads  hence  from  Ackworth  into  Geor 
gia  are  large  and  good,  and  the  country  more 
open.  The  enemy  is  not  in  our  immediate  front, 
but  his  signals  are  seen  at  Lost  Mountain  and 
Kenesaw." 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  from  the  1st  of  May, 
when  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi  began  to  move 
towards  Ringgold,  up  to  this  date,  the  7th  of  June, 
it  had  made  a  most  wonderful  and  successful  cam 
paign.  It  had  marched  over  mountains,  through 
gorges  and  dangerous  gaps,  forded  streams^  built 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  215 

bridges,  scaled  precipices,  and  constructed  roads 
through  the  wildest  of  countries;  had  fought 
battles,  skirmished  almost  every  day,  by  moon 
light,  and  amid  darkness  arid  howling  storms ;  and 
had  captured  every  strong-hold  from  a  large  and 
well-officered  army,  and  driven  them  back  within 
thirty  miles  of  Atlanta. 

Previous  to  this  time  the  public  had  not  regarded 
Sherman  as  a  military  genius  or  a  very  cautious 
general.  He  was  considered  to  be  a  bold,  fear 
less,  and  hard  fighter,  but  very  reckless.  The 
manner  in  which  he  had  conducted  the  campaign 
thus  far,  had  removed  these  impressions,  and  he 
has  since  that  time  been  regarded  as  one  of  our 
ablest  generals. 

INCIDENTS. 

We  will  close  this  chapter  with  the  following  in 
cidents,  which  we  give  upon  the  authority  of 
various  correspondents. 

A  rebel  who  had  voluntarily  given  himself  up, 
was  asked  by  one  of  our  soldiers  what  he  thought 
of  Sherman.  This  was  his  reply :  "  Sherman  gits 
on  a  hill,  flops  his  wings  and  crows ;  then  yells 
out,  attention !  creation !  by  kingdoms  right 
wheel !  march  !  and  then  we  git." 

Some  of  the  prisoners,  with  an  air  of  great 
curiosity  inquired  in  reference  to  the  breech-load 
ing  Henry  rifle,  which  can  be  fired  sixteen  times 


216  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

without  re-loading :  "  Where  do  you  get  those  guns 
which  you  load  on  Sunday,  and  fire  all  the  week  without 
re-loading  ?  " 

A   YANKEE   TRICK. 

Colonel  Wolcott  of  the  Forty-sixth  Ohio,  played 
an  original  and  striking  trick  upon  the  rebels  in 
his  front.  They  were  behind  a  very  heavy  earth 
work  and  safe  from  our  sharpshooters.  Advancing 
his  regiment  he  constructed  a  substantial  rifle  pit, 
in  which  he  placed  his  regiment  entirely  covered 
from  the  rebels,  and  within  short  range  of  their 
works.  He  then  formed  columns  some  distance  in 
the  rear  with  considerable  display,  as  if  about 
to  storm  the  rebel  works.  After  he  had  sufficiently 
attracted  their  attention,  his  bugles  sounded  "  for 
ward."  The  rebels  jumped  to  their  works  in  read 
iness  to  resist  an  assault.  The  "Johnnies"  thus 
exposed  the  half  of  their  bodies  above  the  parapet, 
and  instantly  received  full  and  square  in  their  faces 
the  volleys  of  the  sixteen  shooters  of  the  Forty- 
sixth.  The  line  fell  down  and  the  survivors  thun 
derstruck  by  the  unexpected  fire,  ran  without  cere 
mony  out  of  the  works.  £To  doubt  they  considered 
it  a  Yankee  trick. 

JEFF.    C.    DAVIS7   JOKE. 

General  Jeff.  C.  Davis  played  a  serious  joke 
upon  the  enemy  in  his  front,  of  which  I  have  not 
given  you  the  particulars.  Davis'  division  was 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  217 

near  the  foot  of  a  hill,  near  the  the  top  of  which 
the  rebels  had  a  strong  intrenchment.  Davis  ad 
vanced  a  regiment  as  skirmishers  up  the  hill 
through  the  woods.  It  moved  pretty  well  up  to 
the  work,  and  finding  it  too  strong  to  assault,  the 
colonel  halted  his  command,  and  reported  to  Gen 
eral  Davis  that  he  could  not  proceed  any  further 
without  great  loss.  Davis  ordered  him  to  hold  his 
men  in  that  position  until  he  should  hear  his  signal 
to  withdraw.  Leaving  an  interval  of  the  length 
of  his  regiment,  he  put  troops  on  either  side  and 
in  front  of  this  space  in  ambush,  and  sounded  the 
recall.  As  the  regiment  commenced  falling  back 
leisurely,  the  rebels  came  out  of  their  work,  and 
with  a  tremendous  yell,  charged  down  the  slope 
expecting  to  capture  the  retreating  Yankees.  The 
speed  of  our  men  -was  accelerated  and  down  they 
rushed  to  their  place  in  the  line,  pursued  closely 
by  the  rebels.  The  result  was  a  fearful  slaugh 
ter  of  the  entrapped  confederates.  Few  of  the 
assailants  escaped  Davis'  enfilading  fire. 


CHAPTEE  X. 

SHERMAN'S  GREAT  CAMPAIGN  FROM  CHATTANOOGA  TO 
ATLANTA. 

OPERATIONS    OF  THE    ARMY  FROM    JUNE  SEVENTH   TO  THE 

CAPTURE  OF  ATLANTA SHERMAN'S  REPORT EFFORTS 

TO  BREAK  THE  ENEMY'S  LINES  BETWEEN  KENESAW 
A?ND  PINE  MOUNTAINS DEATH  OF  GENERAL  POLK  — 

MCPHERSON'S  OPERATIONS — TWO  DIRECT  ASSAULTS  — 

KENESAW    ABANDONED  —  THE    PURSUIT PASSAGE     OF 

THE  CHATTAHOOCHEE THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  TWENTIETH 

JOHNSTON  RELIEVED ATTACK  ON  OUR  RIGHT PO 
SITIONS  OF  OUR  FORCES SUDDEN  ATTACK DEATH  OF 

MCPHERSON GRAND  MOVEMENT  OF  THE  RIGHT  FLANK 

—  KILPATRICK'S  OPERATIONS  —  SHERMAN'S  FLANK 
MOVEMENT  AND  THE  CAPTURE  OF  ATLANTA BOM 
BARDMENT  OF  ATLANTA — SHERMAN'S  CONGRATULATORY 

ORDER. 

The  last  chapter  brings  the  account  of  this  won 
derful  campaign  to  June  7,  1864.  In  this  chapter 
we  propose  following  him  to  the  capture  of  Atlanta. 
The  details  of  this  part  of  the  campaign  cannot 
be  given  in  this  chapter,  but  will  be  given  in  a 
subsequent  and  separate  part. 

We  learn  from  General  Sherman's  official  report, 
upon  which  we  base  our  statements  in  this  chapter, 
that  dispositions  were  made  to  break  the  lines  of 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  219 

the  enemy  between  Kenesaw  and  Pine  Mountains. 
This  was  on  the  llth.  General  Hooker  was  placed 
on  the  right  and  front,  and  General  Howard  on 
the  left  and  front  of  the  enemy's  position,  and 
General  Palmer  between  it  and  the  railroad. 
During  a  sharp  cannonading  from  Howard's  right 
or  Hooker's  left,  General  Polk,  the  renowned 
bishop  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  was  killed  on  the 
14th. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th,  Pine  Mountain  was 
found  abandoned  by  the  enemy.  Generals  Thomas 
and  Schofield  advanced,  and  found  the  enemy 
again  strongly  intrenched  along  a  line  of  rugged 
hills  connecting  Kenesaw  and  Lost  Mountains.  At 
the  same  time  General  McPherson  advanced  his 
line,  gaining  substantial  advantage  on  the  left. 
Pushing  operations  on  the  centre  as  vigorously  as 
the  nature  of  the  ground  would  permit,  Gen 
eral  Sherman  ordered  an  assault  on  the  centre, 
when,  on  the  17th,  the  enemy  abandoned  Lost 
Mountain,  and  the  long  line  of  admirable  breast 
works  connecting  it  with  Kenesaw  Mountain.  Our 
forces  continued  to  press  at  all  points,  skirmishing 
in  dense  forests  of  timber  and  across  most  difficult 
ravines,  until  they  found  the  enemy  again  strongly 
posted  and  intrenched,  with  Kenesaw  as  his  salient 
point,  his  right  wing  being  thrown  back  so  as  to 
cover  Marietta,  and  his  left  behind  Nose's  Creek, 


220 

covering  the  railroad  back  to  the  Chattahoochee 
River.  This  enabled  the  enemy  to  contract  his 
lines,  and  strengthen  them  greatly. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  two  direct  assaults  were 
made  for  the  purpose  of  dislodging  them,  but  they 
failed.  On  the  1st  of  July,  Sherman  ordered  Gen 
eral  McPherson  to  throw  his  whole  army,  by  the 
right,  down  to  and  through  Mckajack  Creek  and 
Turner's  Ferry,  across  the  Chattahoochee.  Gen 
eral  McPherson  commenced  this  movement  on  the 
night  of  July  2d,  and  the  effect  was  instantaneous. 
The  next  morning  Kenesaw  Mountain  was  aban 
doned,  "and,"  says  Sherman,  "with  the  first  dawn 
of  morning  I  saw  our  skirmishers  appear  off  on 
the  mountain  top."  We  can  better  imagine  than 
describe  the  feelings  of  the  officers  and  their  men 
at  that  sight.  General  Thomas'  whole  line  was 
then  moved  forward  to  the  railroad,  and  turned 
south  in  pursuit  toward  the  Chattahoochee.  Sher 
man  in  person,  entered  Marietta  at  half-past  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  just  as  the  enemy's  cavalry 
had  vacated  the  place. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  Sherman  had  secured  three 
good  and  safe  points  of  passage  over  the  Chatta 
hoochee,  with  good  roads  leading  to  Atlanta.  The 
same  day  Johnston  abandoned  his  position. on  the 
river,  burned  his  bridges,  and  left  Sherman  undis 
puted  master  north  and  west  of  the  Chattahoochee 
at  daylight  on  the  10th  of  July. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  221 

On  the  20th  of  July,  all  the  armies  had  closed  in, 
converging  toward  Atlanta.  During  the  afternoon 
of  the  20th,  about  four  o'clock,  the  enemy  sallied 
from  his  works  in  force,  and  fell  in  line  of  battle 
against  our  right  centre,  which  was  composed  of 
General  Newton's  division,  of  General  Howard's 
corps,  on  the  Buckhead  Road;  of  General  Hook 
er's  corps,  next  south,  and  General  Johnson's  divi 
sion,  of  General  Palmer's  corps.  The  blow  was 
sudden  and  somewhat  unexpected,  but  General 
Newton  had  hastily  covered  his  front  by  a  line  of 
rail  piles,  which  enabled  him  to  meet  and  repulse 
the  attack.  General  Hooker's  whole  corps  was 
uncovered,  and  had  to  fight  on  comparatively  open 
ground.  After  a  very  severe  battle  the  enemy  was 
driven  back  to  his  intrenchments.  The  action  in 
front  of  General  Johnson  was  comparatively  light, 
that  division  being  well  intrenched.  The  enemy 
left  on  the  field  over  500  dead,  about  1,000  wounded 
severely,  7  stands  of  colors,  and  many  prisoners. 
The  loss  of  our  army  was  not  over  1,500  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing.  On  account  of  the  exposed 
condition  of  Hooker's  corps,  the  greatest  loss  fell 
on  it. 

Sherman  was  greatly  surprised  to  find,  on  the 
morning  of  the  22d,  that  the  enemy  had  abandoned 
their  whole  line.  He  supposed  from  this  that  he 
had  resolved  to  give  up  Atlanta  without  further 


222  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

contest ;  but  General  Johnston  had  been  relieved 
of  his  command,  and  General  Hood  substituted  in 
his  place.  A  new  policy  had  been  adopted,  as  the 
bold  attack  on  our  right  seemed  to  indicate.  As 
soon  as  the  movement  was  discovered,  our  ad 
vancing  ranks  swept  across  the  strong  and  well- 
finished  parapet  of  the  enemy,  and  closed  in  upon 
Atlanta,  until  our  forces  occupied  a  line  in  the 
form  of  a  general  circle  of  about  two  miles  radius, 
when  we  again  found  him  occupying,  in  force,  a  line 
of  finished  redoubts,  which  had  been  prepared  for 
more  than  a  year,  covering  all  the  roads  leading 
into  Atlanta,  and  we  founjl  him  also  busy  in  con 
necting  these  redoubts  with  curtains  strengthened 
by  rifle  trenches,  abattis  and  chevaux-de-fnze. 

General  McPherson,  who  had  advanced  from 
Decatur,  continued  to  follow  the  railroad,  with  the 
Fifteenth  Corps,  General  Logan ;  the  Seventeenth, 
General  Blair,  on  its  left ;  and  the  Sixteenth,  Gen 
eral  Dodge,  on  its  right ;  but  as  the  general  ad 
vance  of  all  the  armies  contracted  the  circle,  the 
Sixteenth  Corps,  was  thrown  out  of  line  by 
the  Fifteenth  connecting  on  the  right  with 
General  Schofield  near  the  Howard  House.  Gen 
eral  McPherson,  the  night  before,  had  gained  a 
high  hill  to  the  south  and  east  of  the  railroad, 
where  the  Seventeenth  Corps  had,  after  a  severe 
fight,  driven  the  enemy,  and  it  gave  him  a  most 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  223 

commanding  position,  within  easy  view  of  the  very 
heart  of  the  city.  He  had  thrown  out  working 
parties  to  it,  and  was  making  preparations  to  oc 
cupy  it  in  strength  with  the  batteries.  The 
Sixteenth  Corps,  was  ordered  from  right  to 
left  to  occupy  this  position  and  make  it  a 
strong  general  left  flank.  General  Dodge  was 
moving  by  a  diagonal  path,  or  wagon  track,  lead 
ing  from  the  Decatur  Road,  in  the  direction  of 
General  Blair's  left  flank.  General  McPherson 
remained  with  General  Sherman  until  near  noon 
day,  when  reports  reached  them  that  indicated  a 
movement  of  the  enemy  on  that  flank.  McPher 
son  then  mounted  and  rode  away  with  his  staff. 
The  day  before,  Sherman  had  detached  General 
Garrard's  cavalry  to  go  to  Covington,  on  the 
Augusta  Road,  forty-two  miles  east  of  Atlanta,  and 
from  that  point  to  send  detachments  to  break  the 
two  important  bridges  across  the  Yellow  and  Ulco- 
fauhatchee  Rivers,  tributaries  of  the  Ocomulgee. 
General  McPherson  had  left  his  wagon  train  at 
Decatur,  under  a  guard  of  three  regiments  com 
manded  by  Colonel,  now  General  Sprague.  Soon 
after  McPherson  left  Sherman  at  the  Howard 
House,  as  above  stated,  General  Sherman  heard 
the  sound  of  musketry  to  our  left  rear,  at  first  mere 
pattering  shots,  but  soon  they  grew  in  volume, 
accompanied  with  artillery,  and  about  the  same 


224  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

time  the  sound  of  guns  was  heard  in  the  direction 
of  Decatur.  ~No  doubt  could  longer  be  entertained 
of  the  enemy's  plan  of  action,  which  was  to  throw 
a  superior  force  on  our  left  flank,  while  he  held 
us  with  his  forts  in  front,  the  only  question  being 
as  to  the  amount  of  force  he  could  employ  at  that 
point.  Sherman  hastily  transmitted  orders  to  all 
points  of  our  centre  and  right  to  press  fo0eard  and 
to  give  full  employment  to  all  the  Bnemy  in  his 
lines,  and  for  General  Schofield  to  hold  as  large  a 
force  in  reserve  as  possible,  and  await  develop 
ments.  Not  more  than  half  an  hour  after  General 
McPherson  had  left  his  adjutant  general,  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Clark  rode  up  to  Sherman  and  in 
formed  him  that  General  McPherson  was  either 
dead  or  a  prisoner ;  and  that  after  he  had  ridden 
from  him  towards  General  Dodge's  columns,  and 
had  sent  off  nearly  all  his  staff  and  orderlies  on 
various  errands,  he  passed  into  a  narrow  path  or 
road  that  led  to  the  left  and  rear  of  General  Giles 
A.  Smith's  division,  which  was  General  Blair's  ex 
treme  left ;  that  a  few  minutes  after  a  sharp  volley 
of  musketry  was  heard  in  that  direction,  and  his 
horse  came  out  riderless,  having  two  wounds. 
"  The  suddenness  of  this  terrible  calamity,"  says  Sher 
man,  "would  have  overwhelmed  me  with  grief,  but  the 
living  demanded  all  my  thoughts."  Sherman  promptly 
dispatched  a  staff  officer  to  General  John  A.  Logan, 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  225 

commanding  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  to  tell  him  what 
had  happened  ;  and  that  he  must  assume  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  hold  stubbornly 
the  ground  already  chosen.  Sherman  paid  this 
tribute  to  General  McPherson  :  "  He  was  a  noble 
youth,  of  striking  personal  appearance,  of  the 
highest  professional  capacity,  and  with  a  heart 
abounding  in  kindness  that  drew  to  him  the  affec 
tions  of  all  men."  His  body  was  recovered,  and 
brought  to  Sherman  in  the  heat  of  battle,  and  sent 
in  charge  of  his  personal  staff  back  to  Marietta, 
and  from  thence  to  his  home,  at  Sandusky,  Ohio. 
At  Nashville,  Louisville,  Cincinnati,  and  all  along 
the  route  to  his  final  resting  place,  the  highest 
tributes  of  respect  were  paid  to  the  memory  and 
remains  of  the  fallen  hero. 

THE    GRAND    MOVEMENT    BY   THE    RIGHT    FLANK. 

Sherman  became  satisfied  that,  to  reach  the  Ma- 
con  Hoad,  and  thereby  control  the  supplies  for 
Atlanta,  he  would  be  compelled  to  move  the  whole 
army.  Before  beginning  this  movement,  he  ordered 
from  Chattanooga,  four  4J-inch  rifled  guns,  to  try 
their  effect  on  the  city  of  Atlanta.  These  guns 
arrived  on  the  10th,  and  were  put  to  work  day 
and  night,  and  did  execution  on  the  city,  causing 
frequent  fires,  and  creating  confusion;  yet  the 
enemy  seemed  determined  to  hold  his  forts,  even 
if  the  city  was  destroyed.  On  the  16th  of  August, 


226 

Sherman  issued  his  orders,  prescribing  the  mode 
and  manner  of  executing  the  grand  movement  by 
the  right  flank,  to  begin  on  the  18th. 

This  movement  contemplated  the  withdrawal  of 
the  Twentieth  Corps,  General  Williams,  to  the 
intrenched  position  at  Chattahoochee  Bridge,  and 
the  march  of  the  main  army  to  the  West  Point 
Railroad,  near  Fairburn,  and  afterwards  to  the 
Macon  lioad,  at  or  near  Jonesboro',  with  wagons 
loaded  with  provisions  for  fifteen  days.  About  the 
time  of  the  publication  of  the  orders  referred  to 
above,  Sherman  learned  that  Wheeler,  with  a  large 
mounted  force,  variously  estimated  from  6,000  to 
10,000  men,  had  passed  around  by  the  east  and 
north,  and  had  made  his  appearance  on  our  lines 
of  communication  near  Adairsville,  and  had  suc 
ceeded  in  capturing  200  of  our  beef  cattle,  and  had 
made  a  break  in  the  railroad  near  Calhoun.  This 
was  just  such  a  movement  as  Sherman  desired. 
He  had  made  ample  preparations  for  such  a  con 
tingency,  and  this  movement  left  him  superior  to 
the  enemy  in  cavalry.  Sherman  suspended  the 
execution  of  his  orders  for  the  time  being,  and 
ordered  General  Kilpatrick  to  make  up  a  well- 
appointed  force  of  about  5,000  cavalry,  and  move 
from  his  camp  about  Sandtown,  during  the  night 
of  the  18th,  to  the  West  Point  Eoad.  This  force 
started  as  ordered,  and  pushed  on  to  Fairburn,  on 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  227 

the  West  Point  Railroad,  where  it  met  the  enemy 
and  dro^e  him  from  the  ground.  Kilpatrick  then 
moved  on  to  Jonesboro',  where  he  did  considerable 
damage,  and  then  rested  his  force  for  the  night 
near  Lovejoy's.  He  succeeded  in  destroying  about 
three  miles  of  the  Macon  Railroad  and  one  train  of 
cars.  The  enemy  attempted  to  surround  his  force 
and  capture  them,  but  they  succeeded  in  cutting 
their  way  through  their  ranks,  and  moved  onward. 
They  crossed  the  Cotton  River  on  the  morning  of 
the  21st,  and  reached  Lithonia,  on  the  Georgia 
Railroad,  east  of  Atlanta,  in  the  evening  of  the 
same  day.  After  resting  for  the  night,  the  expe 
dition  joined  the  main  army  on  the  following 
morning. 

After  an  interview  with  General  Kilpatrick, 
Sherman  was  satisfied  that  whatever  damage  he 
had  done  would  not  produce  the  result  desired. 
He  therefore  renewed  his  orders  for  the  movement 
of  th'e  whole  army.  This,  of  course,  involved  the 
necessity  of  raising  the  seige  of  Atlanta,  taking  the 
field  with  our  main  force,  and  using  it  against  its 
intrenchments.  All  the  army  commanders  were 
at  once  notified  to  send  their  surplus  wagons, 
incumbraiices  of  all  kinds,  and  sick,  back  to  the 
intrenched  position  at  the  bridge,  and  that  the 
movement  would  begin  on  the  night  of  the  25th. 


228  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Accordingly,  all  tilings  being  ready,  the  Fourth. 
Corps,  General  Stanley,  drew  out  of  its  lines  on 
the  extreme  left,  and  marched  to  a  position  below 
Proctor's  Creek.  The  Twentieth  Corps,  General 
"Williams,  moved  back  to  the  Chattahoochee. 
This  movement  was  made  without  loss,  save  a  few 
things  left  in  camp  by  thoughtless  officers  or  men. 
On  the  night  of  the  26th,  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee 
drew  out,  and  moved  rapidly  by  a  circuit  well 
toward  Sandtown,  and  across  Camp  Creek.  The 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  moved  below  Utoy 
Creek,  and  General  Schofield  remained  in  position. 
This  movement  was  effected  with  the  loss  of  but  a 
single  man  in  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  He 
was  wounded  by  a  shell  from  the  enemy.  The 
third  move  brought  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  on 
the  West  Point  Railroad,  above  Fairburn,  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  about  lied  Oak,  and 
General  Schofield  closed  in  near  Digs  and  Minis. 
Sherman  then  ordered  one  day's  work  to  be 
expended  in  destroying  tl%@  road,  and  it  was  done 
with  a  will.  Twelve  and  one-half  miles  were 
destroyed,  the  ties  bwned,  and  the  rails  heated 
and  tortured  by  the  utmost  in^jmuity  of  old  hands 
at  the  work.  Several  cuts  were  filled  up  with  the 
trunks  of  trees,  with  logs,  rocks,  and  earth,  inter 
mingled  with  loaded  shell,  prepared  with  torpedoes, 
to  explode  in  case  of  an  attempt  to  clear  them  out. 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  229 

Sherman,  in  person,  inspected  this  work ;  and, 
satisfied  with  the  execution,  he  ordered  the  army 
to  move  next  day  eastward,  by  several  roads  — 
General  Howard  on  the  right,  toward  Jonesboro' ; 
General  Thomas  in  the  centre,  by  Shoal  Creek 
Church  to  Couch's,  on  the  Decatur  and  Fayetteville 
Road;  and  General  Schofield  on  the  left,  about 
Morrow's  Mills. 

On  the  31st  of  August,  the  enemy  came  out  of 
his  works  at  Jonesboro',  and  attacked  General 
Howard.  Howard  was  admirably  situated  to 
receive  him,  and  thoroughly  repulsed  the  attack. 
The  attacking  party  was  composed  of  Lee's  and 
Hardee's  corps ;  and  after  a  contest  of  more  than 
two  hours,  withdrew,  leaving  on  the  field  over  400 
dead,  and  his  wounded,  of  which  about  300  were 
left  in  Jonesboro'.  His  losses  could  not  have  been 
much  less  than  2,500.  Hearing  the  sound  of  battle 
at  Jonesboro'  about  noon,  orders  were  renewed  to 
push  the  other  movements  on  the  left  and  centre, 
and  about  four  o'clock;^.  M.  the  reports  arrived 
simultaneously  that  General  Howard  had  repulsed 
the  enemy  at  Jonesboro' ;  that  General  Schofield 
had  reached  the  railroad  a  mile  below  Rough-and- 
Ready,  and  was  working  up  the  road,  breaking  it 
as  he  went;  that  General  Stanley,  of  General 
Thomas'  army,  had  taken  possession  of  the  road 
below  General  Schofield,  and  was  destroying  its 
T 


230  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

working  south ;  and  that  General  Bird,  of  General 
Davis'  Corps,  had  struck  it  still  lower  down,  within 
four  miles  of  Jonesboro'. 

Orders  were  at  once  given  for  all  the  army  to 
turn  on  Jonesboro',  and  Howard  was  ordered  to 
keep  the  rebels  busy,  while  Thomas  should  move 
down  from  the  north,  with  General  Schofield  on 
his  left.  Sherman  also  ordered  the  troops,  as  they 
moved  down,  to  continue  the  thorough  destruction 
of  the  railroad,  because  it  was  then  in  his  hands, 
and  he  did  not  know  but  that  events  might  divert 
attention  from  it.  General  Garrard's  cavalry  was 
directed  to  watch  the  roads  in  the  rear,  and  to  the 
north  of  the  army.  General  Kilpatrick  was  sent 
south,  down  the  west  bank  of  the  Flint  River, 
with  instructions  to  attack  or  threaten  the  railroad 
below  Jonesboro'.  Sherman  expected  the  whole 
army  would  close  down  on  Jonesboro'  by  noon  of 
the  1st  of  September.  General  Davis'  Corps, 
having  a  shorter  distance  to  travel,  was  on  time 
and  deployed,  facing  the  south,  his  right  in  con 
nection  with  General  Howard,  and  his  left  on  the 
railroad.  General  Stanley  and  General  Schofield 
were  then  moving  down  along  the  Rough-and- 
Rcady  Road,  and  along  the  railroad,  breaking  it 
as  they  moved.  •  When  General  Davis  joined 
General  Howard,  General  Blair's  Corps,  on 
Howard's  left,  was  thrown  in  reserve,  and  was 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  231 

immediately  sent  well  to  the  right,  below  Joues- 
boro',  to  act  against  that  flank,  along  with  General 
Kilpatrick's  cavalry.  About  four  o'clock  P.  M. 
General  Davis  was  all  ready,  and  commenced  the 
assault  on  the  lines  across  open  fields,  carrying 
them  very  handsomely,  and  taking,  as  prisoners, 
the  greater  part  of  Go  van's  brigade,  including  its 
commander,  with  two  four-gun  batteries.  The 
next  morning  the  enemy  was  gone.  He  had 
retreated  south. 

Humors  began  to  reach  Sherman,  through 
prisoners,  that  Atlanta  had  been  abandoned  during 
the  night  of  September  1st ;  that  Hood  had  blown 
up  his  ammunition  trains,  which  accounted  for  the 
sounds  so  plainly  heard  in  the  direction  of  Atlanta, 
but  which,  as  yet,  had  not  been  explained;  that 
Stewart's  corps  was  then  retreating  towards 
McDonough,  and  that  the  militia  had  gone  off 
towards  Covington.  It  was  then  too  late  for 
Sherman  to  interfere  and  attempt  to  prevent  their 
escape,  and  besides  he  was  well  satisfied  with  the 
substantial  victory  already  gained.  Accordingly, 
he  ordered  the  work  of  destroying  the  railroad  to 
cease,  and  the  troops  to  be  held  in  hand,  ready 
for  any  movement  that  further  information  from 
Atlanta  might  warrant. 

General  Davis'  corps  had  been  left  above  Jones- 
boro,  and  General  Garrard's  cavalry  was  still 


232  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

further  back,  and  the  latter  was  ordered  to  send 
to  Atlanta  and  ascertain  the  exact  truth,  and  the 
real  situation  of  affairs.  But  the  same  night 
(September  4th),  a  courier  arrived  from  General 
Slocum,  reporting  the  fact  that  the  enemy  had 
evacuated  Atlanta,  blown  up  seven  trains  of  cars, 
and  had  retreated  on  the  McDonough  Road. 
General  Slocum  had  entered  and  taken  possession 
on  the  2d  of  September. 

The  object  of  the  movement  against  the  railroad 
was,  therefore,  already  reached  and  concluded. 
As  it  was  idle  to  pursue  the  enemy  in  that  wooded 
country  with  a  view  to  his  capture,  Sherman  gave 
orders,  on  the  4th,  to  prepare  to  move  back  slowly 
to  Atlanta.  On  the  5th  his  forces  moved  to  Jones- 
boro',  five  miles,  where  they  remained  a  day.  On 
the  7th  they  moved  to  Rough  and  Ready,  seven 
miles,  and  the  next  day  to  the  camps  selected.  The 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  were  grouped  round 
about  Atlanta,  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  about 
East  Point,  and  that  of  the  Ohio  at  Decatur,  where 
the  troops  occupied  clean  and  healthful  camps. 

Thus  Sherman  again  accomplished,  by  wise  and 
honorable  strategy,  what  he  could  not  have  other 
wise  done  without  the  sacrifice  of  his  noble  army. 
"Whoever  will  consider  the  extent  and  strength  of 
the  fortifications  of  Atlanta,  as  represented  by  the 
enemy,  will  not  doubt  the  truth  of  this  statement. 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  233 

An  eye  witness  of  the  bombardment  of  Atlanta, 
who  was  within  the  fortifications  at  the  time,  thus 
speaks  of  their  strength,  and  the  comparative 
security  of  the  citizens  : 

"  The  trenches  are  impregnable.  It  might  be 
possible  for  a  heavy  massed  column  to  penetrate 
them,  but  not  without  immense  loss,  and  then  not 
to  be  held.  The  works,  which  were  admirably 
located  at  first,  have  been  materially  strengthened, 
and  the  assaults  of  the  enemy  (Sherman's  forces) 
have  only  developed  our  most  commanding  posi 
tions,  and  demonstrated  where  the  engineer's  skill 
and  the  miner's .  labor  could  be  employed  to  the 
best  advantage. 

"  In  front  of  the  great  circular  line  of  intrench- 
ments,  for  many  rods,  the  fields  are  broken  and 
irregular,  dotted  with  stumps,  and  strewn  with  a 
complete  tangle  of  tree  tops  and  branches  forming 
a  barrier  against  approach.  In  front  of  the  batte 
ries,  blind  pit-falls,  miniature  stockades,  palisades 
and  chevaux-de-frise  work  in  all  directions,  and 
make  a  net  work  out  of  whose  entanglement  a  wild  fox 
could  barely  escape.  By  the  'time  a  charging  line 
could  pass  these  barriers,  under  a  tornado  of  grape- 
shot,  shell  and  minie,  the  line  would  be  so  broken 
and  reduced  as  to  be  totally  ineffectual. 

"The  works  are  almost  invulnerable,  and  every 
day  adds  something  to  their  strength,  and  the  soil 
is  unfavorable  to  mining  operations. 


234 

"  There  are  also  excavations  in  the  soil,  roofed 
with  heavy  logs,  over  which  is  heaped  the  loose 
earth  to  the  height  of  a  young  Ararat.  These 
little  mounds  may  be  seen  all  over  the  city.  The 
garden  to  almost  every  house  which  does  not  boast 
a  cellar  is  supplied  with  its  artificial  bomb-proof. 
They  are  perfectly  secure  against  the  metal  storm, 
and  many  of  them  are  quite  comfortably  furnished 
with  beds  and  chairs  and  other  furniture.  Women 
and  children  are  huddled  together  in  them  for 
hours  at  a  time,  and  when  the  city  is  furiously 
shelled  at  night,  the  whole  community  may  be  said 
to  be  under  ground.  Especially  is  this  the  case 
when  the  moon  is  unusually  bright,  and  the  ap 
proach  of  the  shells  cannot  be  marked  by  their 
fiery  trail." 

We  close  this  chapter  with  Sherman's  congratu 
latory  order  to  his  troops,  and  his  resume  of  the 
operations  of  the  campaign  : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  "j 
IN  THE  FIELD,  ATLANTA,  Ga., 

THURSDAY,  September  8,  1864.      J 

SPECIAL  FIELD  ORDERS  No.  68. 

The  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Armies  of  the  Cumberland, 
Ohio  and  Tennessee  have  already  received  the  thanks  of  the 
nation,  through  its  President  and  Commander-in-Chief ;  and  it 
now  remains  only  for  him  who  has  been  with  you  from  the  begin 
ning,  and  who  intends  to  stay  all  the  time,  to  thank  the  officers 
and  men  for  their  intelligence,  fidelity  and  courage  displayed  in 
the  campaign  of  Atlanta. 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  235 

On  the  1st  of  May  our  armies  were  lying  in  garrison,  seemingly 
quiet,  from  Knoxville  to  Huntsville,  and  our  enemy  lay  behind 
his  rocky-faced  barrier  at  Dalton,  proud,  defiant  and  exulting. 
He  had  had  time  since  Christmas  to  recover  from  his  discomfiture 
on  the  Mission  Ridge,  with  his  ranks  filled,  and  a  new  commander- 
in-chief  second  to  none  of  the  Confederacy  in  reputation  for  skill, 
sagacity  and  extreme  popularity.  All  at  once  our  armies  assumed 
life  and  action,  and  appeared  before  Dalton ;  threatening  Rocky 
Face,  we  threw  ourselves  upon  Resaca,  and  the  rebel  army  only 
escaped  by  the  rapidity  of  his  retreat,  aided  by  the  numerous 
roads  with  which  he  was  familiar,  and  which  were  strange  to  us. 
Again  he  took  post  in  Altoona,  but  we  gave  him  no  rest,  and  by 
a  circuit  towards  Dallas,  and  subsequent  movement  to  Ackworth, 
we  gained  the  Altoona  Pass.  Then  followed  the  eventful 
battles  about  Kenesaw,  and  the  escape  of  the  enemy  across  the 
Chattahoochee  River. 

The  crossing  of  the  Chattahoochee  and  breaking  of  the  Augusta 
Road  was  most  handsomely  executed  by  us,  and  will  be  studied  as 
an  example  in  the  art  of  war.  At  this  stage  of  our  game,  our 
enemies  became  dissatisfied  with  their  old  and  skillful  comman 
der,  and  selected  one  more  bold  and  rash.  New  tactics  were 
adopted.  Hood  first  boldly  and  rapidly,  on  the  20th  ©f  July,  fell 
on  our  right  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  lost ;  again,  on  the  22d,  he 
struck  our  extreme  left,  and  was  severely  punished,  and  finally 
again,  on  the  28th,  he  repeated  the  attempt  on  our  right,  and  that 
time  must  have  been  satisfied,  for  since  that  date  he  has  remained 
on  the  defensive.  We  slowly  and  gradually  drew  our  lines  about 
Atlanta,  feeling  for  the  railroads  which  supplied  the  rebel  army 
and  made  Atlanta  a  place  of  importance.  We  must  concede  to 
our  enemy  that  he  met  these  efforts  patiently  and  skillfully,  but 
at  last  he  made  the  mistake  we  had  waited  for  so  long,  and  sent 
his  cavalry  to  our  rear,  far  beyond  the  reach  of  recall.  In 
stantly  our  cavalry  was  on  his  only  remaining  road,  and  we  fol 
lowed  quickly  with  our  principal  army,  and  Atlanta  fell  into  our 


236  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

possession  as  the  fruit  of  all  concerted  measures,  backed  by  a 
brave  and  competent  army.  This  completed  the  grand  tasl 
which  had  been  assigned  us  by  our  government,  and  your  gen 
eral  again  repeats  his  personal  and  official  thanks  to  all  the  officers 
and  men  composing  this  army,  for  the  indomitable  courage  and 
perseverance  which  alone  could  give  success. 

We  have  beaten  our  enemy  on  every  ground  he  has  chosen,  and 
have  wrested  from  him  his  own  gate  city,  where  were  located  his 
foundries,  arsenals  and  workshops,  deemed  secure  on  account  of 
their  distance  from  our  base,  and  the  seemingly  impregnable  ob 
stacles  intervening.  Nothing  is  impossible  to  an  army  like  this, 
determined  to  vindicate  a  government  which  has  rights  wherever 
our  flag  has  once  floated,  and  is  resolved  to  maintain  them  at  any 
and  all  costs. 

In  our  campaign  many,  yes,  very  many,  of  our  noble  and  gal 
lant  comrades  have  preceded  us  to  our  common  destination,  the 
grave  ;  but  they  have  left  the  memory  of  deeds  on  which  a  nation 
can  build  a  proud  history.  McPherson,  Harker,  McCook,  and 
others  dear  to  us  all,  are  now  the  binding  links  in  our  minds 
that  should  attach  more  closely  together  the  living,  who  have  to 
complete  the  task  which  still  lays  before  us  in  the  dim  future.  I 
ask  all  to  continue  as  they  have  so  well  begun,  the  cultivation  of 
the  soldierly  virtues  that  have  ennobled  our  own  and  other  coun 
tries.  Courage,  patience,  obedience  to  the.  laws  and  constituted 
authorities  of  our  government,  fidelity  to  our  trusts  and  good 
feeling  among  each  other,  each  trying  to  excel  the  other  in  the 
practice  of  those  high  qualities,  and  it  will  then  require  no  pro 
phet  to  foretell  that  our  country  will  in  time  emerge  from  this 
war,  purified  by  the  fires  of  war,  and  worthy  of  its  great  founder, 
"  Washington." 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major  General  Commanding. 
Official :  L.  W.  DAYTON,  Aide-de.  Camp. 


CHAPTER  XL 

SHERMAN'S  GREAT  CAMPAIGN  FROM  CHATTANOOGA  TO 
ATLANTA. 

ADDITIONAL   ACCOUNTS   OF    THE   CAMPAIGN THE  VALUE 

OF    THIS    CHAPTER CAMPAIGN    REVIEWED     BY    A    DIS 
TINGUISHED    GENERAL. 

In  addition  to  the  accounts  given  in  the  three 
previous  chapters  of  this  campaign,  we  subjoin 
another  chapter,  composed  almost  entirely  of  cor 
respondence.  Among  this  correspondence  will  he 
found  several  letters  from  a  distinguished  general, 
who  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign. 

This  chapter  we  regard  as  of  great  value,  and  it 
will  be  read  with  great  interest,  and  for  this  reason. 
Part  of  this  correspondence  will  give  to  the  reader 
a  succinct  review  of  the  whole  campaign,  and  from 
other  parts  he  will  have  descriptions,  facts  and  in 
cidents  which  we  have  excluded  from  the  previous 
chapters,  and  which  will  serve  the  purpose  of  shed 
ding  additional  light  on  this  great  campaign,  and  at 
the  same  time  will  be  a  source  of  pleasure  to  the 
reader  and  valuable  to  the  future  historian. 


238 

The  following  letters  from  the  general,  above 
alluded  to,  will  give  to  the  reader  a  general  review 
of  the  entire  campaign  : 

"  Marching  from  Chattanooga  on  the  5th  of  May, 
and  from  Binggold  on  the  7th,  Sherman  first 
encountered  Johnston  at  Tunnel  Hill,  a  strong 
position,  but  which  was  used  by  him  merely  as  an 
outpost  to  his  still  stronger  one  of  'Buzzard  Boost.' 
This  latter  is  a  narrow  gorge  or  pass  in  the  Cha- 
toogata  Mountains,  flanked  on  one  side  by  the 
precipitous  sides  of  E-ocky  Face  Ridge  (not  unlike 
the  Palisades  of  the  Hudson  River),  and  on  the 
other  by  the  greater  but  less  precipitous  elevation 
called  John's  Mountain.  This  gorge  was  com 
manded  on  the  Dalton  side  by  an  amphitheatre  of 
hills,  which,  as  well  as  the  tops  of  Rocky  Face  and 
John's  Mountain,  was  crowned  by  batteries,  lined 
with  infantry,  and  terraced  by  sharpshooters.  The 
railroad  and  wagon  road  wind  through  the  gorge, 
which  is  absolutely  the  only  passage  through  the 
mountains  at  this  place.  Taking  a  leaf  from  the 
book  of  his  Yorktown  experience,  Johnston  had 
skillfully  flooded  the  entrance  to  the  gorge  by 
damming  a  neighboring  mountain  stream  and 
covering  both  railroad  and  wagon  road  with  water 
to  the  depth,  in  some  places,  of  eight  to  ten  feet. 
It  is  scarcely  possible  to  conceive  a  stronger  defen 
sive  position ;  and  the  rebels  had  been  induced  to 
believe  that  it  was  unassailable. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  239 

"  Two  days'  reconnoissance  and  sharp  skirmish 
ing  proved  to  General  Sherman  that  an  attack  in 
front  would  cost  too  great  a  sacrifice  of  life,  and 
that  it  must  be  turned.  The  means  for  this  were 
found  in  a  gap  —  called  '  Snake  Creek  Gap' — some 
fifteen  miles  to  the  southwest.  Our  superiority  of 
numbers,  and  the  densely-wooded  condition  of  the 
country,  enabled  the  gap  to  be  occupied  by  us, 
and  the  manoeuvre  half  completed  before  it  was 
discovered  by  Johnston. 

"  McPherson,  with  the  Fifteenth  and  part  of  the 
Sixteenth  Corps,  supported  by  Thomas  with  the 
Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  Corps,  and  Garrard's 
division  of  cavalry,  effected  the  flank  movement; 
while  Howard,  with  the  Fourth  Corps,  Schofield 
with  the  Twenty-third,  and  Stoneman's  division  of 
cavalry,  amused  the  enemy  in  front. 

"  Johnston  was,  of  course,  thus  forced  to  abandon 
his  stronghold,  and  fall  back  to  a  new  position,  to 
save  his  railroad  and  other  communications,  thus 
directly  menaced. 

"  This  new  position  was  around  the  town  of 
Eesaca,  011  a  range  of  hills,  in  a  broken  and 
densely-wooded  country. 

"  Guarding  against  another  turning  operation,  the 
wary  Johnston  so  cared  for  his  flanks  that  we  were 
forced  to  attack  him  in  front.  For  three  days  we 
had  some  very  severe  fighting ;  but  gaining  a  little 


240  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

every  day,  and  holding  on  tenaciously  to  all  he  got, 
Sherman  finally  possessed  himself  of  certain  hills, 
which  commanded  the  town,  railroad  bridge,  and 
roads  in  his  rear.  Crowning  these  with  our  bat 
teries  during  the  night,  we  were  prepared  at 
daylight  next  morning  to  render  his  roads  impass 
able  ;  but  the  enemy  evacuated  during  the  night. 
Our  trophies  were  eight  guns,  two  colors,  several 
hundred  prisoners,  and  a  quantity  of  provisions 
and  forage. 

"  Following  him  up  closely,  we  either  drove  or 
turned  him  out  of  every  succeeding  position  as  far 
as  Marietta,  seven  miles  north  of  the  Chattahoo- 
chee,  and  about  fifteen  north  of  Atlanta;  while 
we  were  close  upon  him,  with  the  railroad  and 
telegraph  fully  repaired  behind  us,  and  supplies  of 
all  sorts  at  hand  in  abundance. 

"  To  recapitulate  :  We  have,  in  a  month's  time, 
with  a  force  not  very  much  superior  to  his,  forced 
the  enemy  back  nearly  one  hundred  miles,  oblig 
ing  him  to  abandon  four  different  positions  of 
unusual  strength  and  proportions;  have  fought 
him  six  times ;  have  captured  twelve  guns,  three 
colors,  over  two  thousand  prisoners,  with  consider 
able  forage,  provisions,  and  means  of  transporta 
tion  ;  have  placed  at  least  fifteen  thousand  of  his 
men  hors  de  combat ;  and  have  destroyed  several 
important  foundries,  rolling  mills,  iron  works,  &c., 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  241 

at  Rome  and  in  the  Altoona  Mountains.  All 
these  are  substantial  proofs  of  success. 

"  Johnston  now  holds  an  apparently  strong  posi 
tion  immediately  in  front  of  Marietta,  which  looks 
like  the  hardest  nut  we  have  yet  had  to  crack. 
We  are  in  line  of  battle  about  one  mile  in  his 
front,  and,  as  soon  as  the  rain  (of  which  we  have 
had  a  week's  steady  outpouring)  clears  up,  we 
shall  try  conclusions  with  him.  The  probabilities 
are  that  we  shall  have  a  hard  tussle.  The  accounts 
of  prisoners,  deserters,  scouts,  &c.,  place  Johnston's 
force  at  nine  divisions,  of  about  seven  thousand 
men  each,  with  an  auxiliary  force  of  Georgia 
militia,  variously  estimated  at  from  fifteen  thou 
sand  to  twenty-five  thousand  men.  As  at  present 
arranged,  Hood's  Corps  is  on  his  left,  Hardee's  the 
right,  and  Folk's  the  centre,  with  the  militia  dis 
posed  at  various  points  to  the  best  advantage. 
The  enemy's  cavalry,  said  to  number  fifteen 
thousand,  is  on  their  .flank  and  our  rear.  I  pre 
sume  Johnston's  entire  force  is  not  far  from  eighty 
thousand  men." 

"At  the  date  of  my  last  letter  (June  12,  from 
Big  Shanty)  the  enemy's  line  was  intrenched  upon 
Lost  Mountain,  Pine  Hill,  Kenesaw  Mountain 
(three  peaks),  and  upon  a  line  of  ridges  connecting 
these  three  points,  and  extending  eastward  of  the 
last  named  some  two  miles,  up  to  and  beyond  an 


242  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

eminence  called  Brushy  Hill.  They  also  occupied, 
for  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  a  line  of  ridge 
nearly  parallel  to  the  long  diameter  of  Keuesaw, 
and  about  half  a  mile  in  front  of  it.  You  will 
perceive  that  their  defensive  line  was  irregular, 
concave  to  us,  with  Kenesaw  as  a  sort  of  citadel  or 
stronghold  in  a  deep  reentrant.  The  ridge  in  front 
of  Kenesaw  commences  about  Wallace's  House, 
(on  the  Burnt  Hickory  and  Marietta  Road),  and 
extends  thence  across  the  railroad  behind  IsToonday 
Creek  about  two  miles  in  an  east  by  north  direc 
tion.  Lost  Mountain  and  Kenesaw  are  about 
eleven  hundred  feet  high,  Pine  Hill  and  Bushy 
Hill  about  four  hundred  feet  high,  and  the  ridges 
everywhere  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two 
hundred  feet,  or  about  the  same  as  (and,  in  fact, 
not  very  dissimilar  to)  Missionary  Eidge  at  Chat 
tanooga.  The  enemy  was  everywhere  strongly 
intrenched  behind  log  barricades,  protected  by 
earth  thrown  against  them,  with  a  ditch,  formida 
ble  abatis,  and  in  many  places  a  chevaux-de-frise 
of  sharpened  fence  rails  besides.  Their  intrench- 
ments  were  well  protected  by  thick  traverses,  and 
at  frequent  intervals  arranged  with  emplacements 
and  embrasures  for  field-guns.  The  thickness  of 
this  parapet  (which  really  resembled  a  parallel)  was 
generally  six  to  eight  feet  at  top  on  the  infantry-line, 
and  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  thick  (at  top)  where 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  243 

field-guns  were  posted,  or  where  fire  from  our  ar 
tillery  was  anticipated.  The  amount  of  digging 
and  intrenching  that  Johnston's  army  has  done,  and 
is  doing,  is  almost  incredible.  From  the  12th  to 
the  present  date,  our  operations  have  resulted  in 
wresting  Lost  Mountain,  Pine  Hill  (the  ridge  in 
front  of  Kenesaw,)  and  Brushy  Hill  from  the  en 
emy,  and  forcing  back  his  two  wings  (Kenesaw 
Mountain  operating  as  a  sort  of  hinge, )  until  now 
his  left  is  behind  Olley's  Creek,  and  his  right  be 
hind  the  stream  which  flows  between  the  houses 
named  on  the  map  as  McAffee  and  Wiley  Roberts. 
Kenesaw  Mountain  is  now  a  sharp  salient  instead 
of  a  reentrant.  Of  this  formidable  point  d'  appui 
we  have  not  yet  been  able  to  get  possession.  It  is  a 
rocky  eminence,  rather  precipitous,  thickly  wooded, 
and  crowned  with  batteries. 

"Our  respective  lines  are  about  eight  or  nine 
miles  in  length,  are  from  six  hundred  to  seven  hun 
dred  yards  distant  from  each  other,  and  are  strongly 
intrenched.  Skirmishing  goes  on  incessantly,  and 
artillery  duels  occur  two  or  three  times  daily.  The 
enemy  have  at  different  times  made  some  dozen  or 
more  assaults,  sometimes  getting  within  fifty  yards 
of  our  intrenchments,  but  are  always  repulsed,  and 
generally  with  heavy  loss  to  them.  On  the  27th  of 
June,  to  gain  certain  positions,  we  opened  a  heavy 
artillery  fire  upon  their  whole  line,  pressed  their 


244  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

two  flanks  heavily,  and  made  assaults  in  two  places 
upon  their  centre.  The  assaults  were  unsuccessful ; 
but  the  Twenty-third  Corps,  upon  our  extreme  right, 
gained  some  important  advantages  of  position,  of 
which  we  will  avail  ourselves  anon. 

"Our  losses  on  this  day  were  about  two  thousand, 
of  all  ranks,  Brigadier-General  Harker  being  killed, 
and  Brigadier-Generals  Wagner  and  McCook  dan 
gerously  wounded. 

"  Our  artillery  practice,  in  all  of  our  operations 
in  this  campaign,  has  been  truly  admirable,  and  has 
proved  of  indispensable  service.  We  learn  from 
various  rebel  sources  how  fatal  its  effects  have  been. 

"We  are  now,  in  every  portion  of  our  line,  less 
than  three  miles  distant  from  Marietta.  The  enemy, 
now  almost  cornered,  are  thoroughly  at  bay,  and 
make  most  determined  and  obstinate  resistance. 
Every  inch  we  gain  is  by  sheer  hard  fighting,  and 
it  is  only  by  hard  fighting  that  we  can  hold  on  to 
all  we  get." 

"  The  strategy  that  gave  us  Kenesaw  Mountain 
and  Marietta  on  the  3d  of  July,  that  forced  the 
enemy  out  of  his  next  fortified  line  half-way  be 
tween  Marietta  and  Chattahoochee  on  the  5th,  and 
drove  the  greater  portion  of  his  forces  across  the 
river,  and  that  finally  compelled  him  to  let  go  his 
hold  of  the  entire  right  bank,  forced  him  from  the 
occupation  of  the  immediate  left  bank,  and  enabled 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  245 

us  to  cross  and  effect  a  sure  lodgment  there  July  8th 
to  12th,  consisted  in  strong  demonstrations  (extend 
ing  as  low  down  the  river  as  below  Campbellton)  on 
the  enemy's  left,  conveying  the  impression  that  it  was 
his  left  flank  that  was  to  be  turned,  and  that  the 
passage  of  the  river  south  of  Atlanta  was  to  be 
forced,  and  then  rapidly  shifting  masses  of  our 
troops  from  our  extreme  right  to  our  extreme  left, 
turning  the  enemy's  right  flank,  and  seizing  and 
holding  vital  strategic  points  in  that  direction. 

"  Crossing  the  river  at  Eosswell,  and  at  Phillips' 
Ferry  (five  miles  below),  our  left  encountered  Only 
cavalry  and  the  new  levies  of  militia ;  while  the 
mass  of  the  enemy's  force  was  watching  our  feints 
extending  from  Power's  Ferry  (four  miles  above 
the  railroad-bridge)  to  Turner's  Ferry  (some  two 
and  a  half  miles  below  it).  The  lodgment  once 
secured  on  the  left  bank,  bridges  were  built,  and  a 
force  was  soon  thrown  over,  sufficient  not  only  to 
hold  our  own  there  against  all  peradventure,  but 
to  advance  boldly,  roll  back  the  enemy's  right,  and 
uncover  Power's  Ferry,  which  was  immediately 
bridged,  and  gave  us  a  third  and  most  important 
crossing.  An  additional  advance  of  the  left  gave 
us  Pace's  Ferry  (only  one  mile  above  the  railroad 
bridge),  which  was  securely  bridged  by  a  double 
trestle  structure,  and  which  enabled  us  to  cross  the 


246  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

remainder  of  our  force.  The  Army  of  the  Cum 
berland  held  our  left,  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  the 
centre,  and  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  the  right. 
Leaving  Davis'  division  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Chattahoochee  to  cover 
the  railroad  bridge  and  watch  the  approaches  from 
the  southwest  to  our  rear,  the  whole  army  com 
menced  a  grand  right  wheel,  pirouetting  upon  the 
river,  just  above  the  railroad  bridge.  In  this  man 
ner,  with  our  left  swinging  through  Cross-Keys  and 
our  centre  through  Buckhead,  we  very  soon  began 
to  menace  the  Augusta  Road,  and  the  enemy's  com 
munications  everywhere,  including  the  city  of  At 
lanta  itself.  Our  extreme  left  found  but  little  else 
than  cavalry  to  encounter,  with  a  few  horse-artillery 
guns,  and  a  very  light  force  of  supporting  infan 
try — thus  plainly  indicating  that  in  the  enemy's 
mind  the  delusion  that  his  left  and  not  his  right 
was  still  the  real  point  of  attack,  and  that  Atlanta 
was  to  be  approached  by  us  from  the  southwest 
instead  of  from  the  northwest,  had  not  been  dis 
pelled.  Under  these  circumstances,  our  left  and 
left-centre  were  enabled  to  pass  with  but  little 
trouble  the  naturally  strong  defensive  lines  of 
Nance's  and  Peach  Tree  Creek.  Becoming  now 
awakened  to  his  real  position,  the  enemy  com 
menced  extending  towards  his  right,  falling  gradu 
ally  back  upon  Atlanta  so  as  to  shorten  his  line, 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  247 

and  was  thus  compelled  to  relax  his  grasp  of  the 
Chattahoochee  near  Turner's  Ferry.  Having  now 
obtained  entire  control  of  both,  banks  of  the  river 
covered  by  our  line,  and  for  some  miles  both  above 
and  below,  Davis'  division  was  crossed  to  the  left 
bank  and  joined  its  corps.  The  right  wheel  of  our 
army  was  still  continued,  and  it  soon  gave  us  posses 
sion  of  Decatur  and  the  Atlanta  and  Augusta  Rail 
road,  passing  through  that  town.  The  railroad  was 
destroyed  by  us  for  many  miles,  and  this  line  of  com 
munication  rendered  useless  to  the  enemy.  Driving 
the  enemy  before  us  gradually,  as  he  fitfully  strug 
gled  from  one  defensive  intrenched  position  to 
another,  we  at  length  forced  him  within  the  defences 
of  Atlanta  itself,  and  on  the  21st  our  troops  took 
their  position  in  front  of  them.  At  that  date  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee  (our  left)  fronted  the  south 
east  of  the  city,  with  its  centre  across  the  Augusta 
Railroad  and  its  left  about  two  miles  east  of  the 
Macon  Railroad ;  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  covered 
the  eastern  front,  and  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
the  northeastern,  which  included  the  railroad  to 
Chattanooga,  and  covered  our  bridges  and  other 
communications  across  the  Chattahoochee.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  20th  of  July,  while  the  left  division 
(Ward's)  of  the  Twentieth  Corps  and  the  right 
division  (Newton's)  of  the  Fourth  Corps  were  ad 
vancing  to  occupy  a  position  from  which  the  enemy 


248  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

had  been  driven  the  night  previous,  the  enemy 
turned  upon  them  and  advanced  in  heavy  masses 
to  attack.  Our  men,  though  the  greater  portion 
were  but  slightly  protected  by  the  usual  log  or  rail 
breastworks,  and  some  of  them  were  entirely  in  the 
open  field,  stood  up  to  the  work  most  manfully,  and 
successfully  repulsed,  with  heavy  loss  to  the  enemy, 
all  of  the  repeated  attacks  made  upon  them.  Night 
closed  upon  the  enemy  in  full  retreat,  and  our  own 
line  well  advanced  beyond  the  position  it  had  when 
first  attacked.  Our  loss  was  a  trifle  less  than  two 
thousand.  We  buried  six  hundred  of  the  enemy's 
dead,  and  captured  four  hundred  prisoners  and 
seven  regimental  flags.  The  enemy's  entire  loss, 
as  since  admitted  by  their  newspapers,  was  six 
thousand. 

"  On  the  22d  of  July,  about  eleven  o'clock  A.  M., 
the  enemy  availed  himself  of  somewhat  similar  cir 
cumstances  attending  the  Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth 
Corps,  and  attacked  them  furiously  in  flank  and 
front  as  they  were  getting  into  position.  Our  men, 
attacked  thus  suddenly,  and  by  overwhelming  num 
bers,  were  heavily  pressed,  and  at  two  points  re 
coiled.  An  unclosed  gap  between  the  two  corps, 
and  another  created  by  the  disorder  of  a  division 
of  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  gave  the  enemy  an  oppor 
tunity  to  penetrate  our  line,  get  possession  of  some 
of  our  guns,  and  take  several  hundred  prisoners. 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS 

The  Sixteenth  Corps  being  promptly  moved  up  to 
the  threatened  points,  our  best  ground  was  speedily 
recovered,  four  of  our  guns  retaken,  and  our  lines 
securely  reestablished.  The  enemy  very  persis 
tently  repeated  his  attacks  several  times  (one  par 
ticular  hill,  the  key  to  the  position,  being  assaulted 
seven  times),  but  were  handsomely  repulsed,  and 
before  sunset  were  driven  everywhere  from  the 
field  in  confusion.  Our  losses  were  three  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  sixty  men  killed,  wounded  and 
missing,  thirteen  guns,  and  two  colors.  Of  the 
enemy  we  buried,  or  delivered  to  them  next  morn 
ing  under  flag  of  truce,  three  thousand  one  hun 
dred  dead,  and  captured  two  thousand  two  hundred 
prisoners  and  eighteen  regimental  colors.  Their 
entire  loss,  by  all  ordinary  rules  of  computation, 
could  not  be  less  than  twelve  thousand.  Our  se 
verest  loss  on  this  day  was  General  McPherson, 
who  fell  instantly  killed  by  a  volley  from  a  portion 
of  the  enemy's  force  which  had  penetrated  a  piece 
of  woods  within  our  lines.  A  gallant  and  expe 
rienced  soldier,  a  refined  and  cultivated  gentleman, 
he  died  universally  regretted. 

"  On  the  28th  of  July  the  enemy  assaulted  another 
portion  of  our  line,  where  they  again  encountered 
the  Fifteenth  Corps.  As  usual,  they  moved  up  in 
heavy  force  and  made  repeated  assaults,  but  were 
again  unsuccessful,  and  were  driven  back  to  their 


250  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

intrenchments,  leaving  the  ground  behind  them 
strewed  with  their  dead  and  wounded.  Our  losses 
were  eight  hundred  and  fifty-six  killed,  wounded 
and  missing*.  -We  buried  over  six  hundred  of  the 

O 

enemy's  dead,  and  captured  four  regimental  colors, 
and  have  good  reason  to.put  their  entire  loss  at  five 
thousand.  Since  we  crossed  the  Chattahoochee 
the  enemy  must  have  lost  twenty  thousand.  While 
these  events  were  transpiring,  several  cavalry 
expeditions  were  sent  out  for  the  destruction  of 
railroads,  supplies,  &c.,  &c.  Major  General  Rous 
seau  broke  the  railroad  for  thirty  miles  between 
West  Point  and  Montgomery,  captured  two  hun 
dred  prisoners  and  five  hundred  horses  and 
mules,  and  returned  with  a  loss  of  less  than 
thirty  men.  Brigadier  General  Garrard  broke  the 
Atlanta  and  Augusta  Railroad  for  fifteen  miles 
near  Covington,  burned  two  important  railroad 
bridges,  two  locomotives  and  trains  of  loaded  cars, 
two  thousand  bales  of  cotton,  and  several  depots, 
and  captured  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  and 
three  hundred  horses  and  mules.  His  loss  was 
only  two  men.  Brigadier  General  McCook,  start 
ing  from  below  Campbellton,  crossed  the  Chatta 
hoochee,  broke  several  miles  of  the  Atlanta  and 
West  Point  and  Atlanta  and  Macoii  Railroads, 
burned  six  hundred  loaded  wagons  of  the  enemy's 
supply  and  reserve  train,  and  killed  a  large 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  251 

number  (said  to  be  eight  hundred)  of  mules.  This 
expedition  captured  several  hundred  prisoners, 
including  Brigadier  General  Ross,  but,  becoming 
surrounded  by  an  overwhelming  force  of  the  ene 
my,  General  McCook  was  obliged  to  cut  his  way 
through,  abandoning  all  his  prisoners,  and  losing 
five  hundred  men.  Major  General  Stoneman  is 
still  out  on  another  important  and  hazardous 
expedition,  but  has  not  yet  been  heard  from. 

"  Meanwhile,  the  enemy  obstinately  defend  At 
lanta,  which  we  find  to  be  entirely  surrounded  by 
strong  earthworks,  armed  with  a  numerous  and 
powerful  artillery,  and  garrisoned  by  a  force  quite 
strong  enough  to  render  the  question  of  assault  one 
to  be  not  lightly  considered.  The  fate  of  the  city 
is  nevertheless  as  certain  as  any  thing  in  war  can 
be;  and  it  must  soon  fall  into  our  hands. 

"  During  the  whole  of  this  summer's  campaign 
in  Northern  Georgia  the  services  of  the  artillery 
have  been  conspicuous.  The  Western  soldier  seems 
to  be  peculiarly  adapted  for  this  special  service : 
brave,  self-reliant,  and  a  good  marksman,  he  stands 
steadily  to  his  gun  in  the  most  critical  times,  and 
delivers  his  fire  coolly  and  with  good  effect.  The 
three  years'  experience  which  this  Western  volun 
teer  artillery  has  had,  has  given  its  officers  and  men 
a  vast  store  of  valuable  practical  knowledge.  It  is 
no  unusual  thing  for  a  field-battery  to  take  up  its 


252 

position,  intrench  itself  securely,  and  open  an  effec 
tive  fire,  in  the  shortest  possible  time,  unaided  L>J 
the  advice  of  superior  officers  or  the  assistance  of 
engineer  or  other  troops.  "We  have  abundance  of 
rebel  testimony  in  proof  of  the  accuracy  and  vigor 
of  our  artillery  fire. 

"  I  write  in  great  haste — under  a  broiling  sun — 
with  only  the  shelter  of  a  tent-fly." 

"ARTILLERY  HEAD-QUARTERS,  "| 

"  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  V 

"ATLANTA,  September  10, 1864.     j 

"  I  think  my  last  letter  to  you  closed  with  some 
accounts  of  the  cavalry  raids  of  Generals  McCook 
and  Ston  email,  the  uncaptured  portions  of  whose 
forces  had  about  that  time  just  returned  to  our  lines. 
The  object  of  these  two  expeditions  —  one  issuing 
from  our  right  flank,  the  other  from  our  left — was 
the  destruction  of  a  portion  of  the  railroad  to  Ma- 
con,  and  the  consequent  interruption,  if  not  the 
complete  severance,  of  the  enemy's  sole  remaining 
line  of  communication  and  supply. 

"  Stoneman,  after  completing  his  portion  of  the 
work,  was  granted  permission  by  General  Sherman 
(the  request  for  this  indulgence  having  been 
urgently  pressed  by  General  Stoi^emaii)  to  attempt 
the  liberation  of  our  officers  imprisoned  at  Macon, 
and  of  our  thirty  thousand  enlisted  men  at 
Andersonville. 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  253 

"Although  Stoneman  failed  altogether  in  the 
latter  portion  of  his  programme,  both  raids  were 
almost  as  successful  as  cavalry  raids  usually  are,  i.  e., 
much  damage  was  inflicted  upon  the  enemy,  with 
considerable  loss  to  ourselves;  the  enemy,  as  usual, 
repairing  his  damage  within  the  week  or  ten  days 
following. 

"  Failing  to  dislodge  Hood  from  Atlanta  in  this 
way,  General  Sherman  next  resorted  to  a  further 
extension  of  his  right,  hoping  to  outflank  him  in  that 
direction.  The  Twenty-third  Corps,  supported  by 
the  Fourteenth,  was,  on  the  6th  of  August,  moved 
out  to  the  south  of  Utay  Creek.  The  enemy  had 
probably  anticipated  a  movement  of  this  sort,  for 
the  Twenty-third  Corps,  on  approaching  the  ene 
my's  supposed  flank,  suddenly  developed  a  strongly 
intrenched  line,  with  the  customary  '  abatis '  and 
6  head-log'  stretching  away  southward,  in  the  direc 
tion  of  East  Point,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach. 
Hascall's  division  of  the  Twenty-third  Corps  was 
moved  up  to  try  its  strength,  the  Fourteenth  Corps 
on  its  left,  meantime,  making  a  feigned  assault  to 
prevent  the  accumulation  of  too  large  a  force  in 
front  of  Hascall. 

"  The  natural  difficulties  of  the  ground,  and  the 
impenetrable  nature  of  the  artificial  obstructions, 
prevented  Hascall's  success;  and,  with  a  loss  of  about 
two  hundred  men,  compelled  him  to  return  to  his 
lines. 

V 


254  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

"  isText  day  a  more  determined  assault  was  made, 
the  enemy's  line  carried,  and  our  dead  and  wound 
ed  of  the  previous  day  recovered.  This  line  was 
now  discovered  to  be  an  exterior  one,  run  out  in  a 
southwesterly  direction  for  nearly  a  mile  at  an  ob 
tuse  angle  to  his  main  line,  and  was  held  by  a  sin 
gle  division.  The  possession  of  this  exterior  work 
enabled  General  Sherman  to  close  at  all  points 
directly  upon  the  enemy's  main  line  of  defense. 
This  line  was  now  plainly  developed  to  be  a  series 
of  redoubts  of  great  thickness  of  parapet  and  good 
command,  connected  throughout  by  a  continuous 
infantry  parapet,  covered  by  abatis,  chevaux-de-frise, 
and  entanglements  of  various  other  kinds; — the 
whole  completely  surrounding  Atlanta,  and  thence 
extending  the  ridge  ail  the  way  to  East  Point  (six 
miles),  covering  the  track  jointly  between  two 
points  by  the  Atlanta  and  Macon  and  the  Atlanta 
and  West  Point  Railroads. 

"  Under  such  circumstances,  it  is  plain  that  Hood, 
with  the  advantage  of  interior  lines,  and  acting 
strictly  on  the  defensive  behind  his  strong  intrench- 
ments,  could,  with  an  inferior  force,  successfully 
hold  his  position. 

"  The  fertile  genius  of  Sherman  was  fully  equal 
to  the  occasion.  A  careful  survey  and  considera 
tion  of  the  situation  satisfied  him  that  Hood's  lines 
could  not  be  assaulted,  even  successfully,  without  a 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  265 

sacrifice  of  life  to  his  own  troops  not  justified  by 
the  circumstances.  He  therefore  determined  to 
bring  strategy  to  his  aid.  His  conceptions  here 
were  characterized  by  his  usual  boldness,  prompt 
ness  and  independence.  He  determined  to  with 
draw  his  whole  army  from  the  immediate  front  of 
Atlanta,  and,  leaving  one  corps  at  the  Cliattalioo- 
chee  River  to  guard  his  tete-de-pont,  covering  the 
railroad  bridge,  and  the  pontoon  and  trestle  bridges 
within  the  space  of  a  mile  north  and  south  of  it,  to 
throw  the  remainder  of  his  troops  to  the  southwest 
and  south  of  the  city,  across  the  Macon  Railroad — 
the  West  Point  E-ailroad  to  be  thoroughly  destroyed 
en  route.  The  plan  was  submitted  to  the  lieuten 
ant  general,  who,  though  deeming  it  hazardous, 
gave  it  his  full  approval,  and  preparations  were 
accordingly  at  once  made  for  putting  it  into 
execution. 

"  Meantime,  to  divert  the  enemy's  attention  from 
our  real  purposes,  but  principally  to  prevent  that 
accumulation  of  supplies  within  the  city  which  it 
was  well  understood  was  being  made,  General  Bar 
ry,  chief  of  artillery,  was  authorized  to  place  in  cer 
tain  favorable  positions  some  rifled  siege-guns,  and 
to  keep  up  from  them  a  continuous  fire  day  and 
night  until  the  preparations  for  the  main  move 
ment  were  completed.  This  was  done,  and  for 
twelve  days  the  constant  dropping  of  4J-inch  shells 


256  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  S11EKMAN, 

and  case-shot  materially  interfered  with  the  ran- 
ning  of  railroad  trains  and  the  accumulation  of 
supplies,  and  was  the  immediate  cause,  by  the  oc 
casioning  of  several  destructive  conflagrations,  of 
the  destruction  of  much  of  the  enemy's  public  pro 
perty.  General  Kilpatrick,  during  the  same  inter 
val,  was  instructed  to  make  a  raid  across  the 
enemy's  communications,  which  resulted  in  the 
temporary  breakage  of  some  miles  of  railroad,  the 
dispersion  of  a  brigade  of  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
and  the  capture  of  one  hundred  prisoners,  three 
flags,  and  one  piece  of  artillery.  On  the  25th  of 
August,  all  the  necessary  preparations  having  been 
completed,  the  grand  movement  was  appointed  to 
commence. 

"  Our  line  at  that  time  was  held  as  follows  :  The 
Fourth  Corps,  with  its  left  resting  upon  the  Georgia 
Railroad,  formed  our  extreme  left;  next,  on  the 
right,  was  the  Twentieth  Corps,  its  right  resting  on 
Proctor's  Creek;  the  Sixteenth,  Seventeenth  and 
Fifteenth  Corps,  forming  the  Army  of  the  Tennes 
see,  came  next ;  then  the  Fourteenth  Corps ;  and, 
finally,  the  Twenty-third  Corps,  which  formed  our 
extreme  right.  Garrard's  cavalry  division  covered 
our  left  flank,  and  Kilpatrick's  our  right.  During 
the  night  of  the  25th  of  August,  the  Fourth  Corps 
drew  out  from  its  intrenchments,  and,  moving  by 
the  rear  of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  crossed  Proctor's 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  257 

Creek,  and  was  massed  behind  the  left  centre  of 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee ;  the  Twentieth  Corps 
was  also  withdrawn  from  its  intrenchments,  and 
took  position  at  the  railroad  bridge  across  the  Chat- 
tahoochee;  Garrard's  cavalry  fell  back  behind 
Peach  Tree  Creek.  By  daylight  of  the  26th,  this 
portion  of  the  movement  was  completed,  and  the 
north  and  east  sides  of  Atlanta  uncovered. 

"  The  enemy,  quite  taken  by  surprise,  were  evi 
dently  at  a  loss  to  understand  the  movement,  and 
seemed  to  believe  that  we  had  commenced  to  re 
treat.  During  the  next  night  the  Fourth  Corps 
pushed  on  in  the  direction  of  'Red  Oak/  on  the 
Atlanta  and  West  Point  Railroad,  and  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee  and  the  Fourteenth  Corps  were 
withdrawn  from  their  intrenchments,  and  moved, 
the  former  in  the  direction  of  'Fairburn,3  the  latter 
in  that  of  c  Red  Oak.'  The  whole  front  of  Atlanta 
was  now  uncovered,  except  that  portion  occupied 
by  the  Twenty-third  Corps,  which  alone  remained 
in  its  intrenchments.  The  enemy,  still  bewildered 
and  apparently  uncertain  of  our  intentions,  sent  out 
a  skirmish  line  to  reconnoitre.  It  moved  but  little 
beyond  our  abandoned  works,  except  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  railroad  bridge,  where  it  found  us  in 
force  and  strongly  intrenched.  During  the  next 
day  the  Twenty- third  Corps  withdrew  from  its  in 
trenchments,  and  formed  the  left  of  our  new  line, 


258  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

which  now  advanced,  reached  and  crossed  the 
West  Point  Railroad,  and  intrenched  for  the  night, 
facing  east  and  north.  The  next  day  was  spent  in 
destroying  the  West  Point  Railroad,  which  was 
most  effectually  done  from  Red  Oak  to  Fairburn, 
and  some  miles  beyond,  every  tie  being  burned, 
and  every  rail  twisted  and  warped.  The  enemy 
seemed  now  to-be  awakened  to  a  suspicion  that  an 
extensive  infantry  raid  upon  the  Macon  Railroad 
was  iii  process  of  execution,  and  probably  believed 
that  it  was  to  be  effected  by  perhaps  the  half,  or 
even  a  smaller  portion,  of  our  whole  force.  He  was 
evidently  innocent  of  the  belief  that  our  whole 
army  was  moving  upon  his  communications.  Hood 
sent  Hardee's  corps,  followed  by  S.  D.  Lee's,  to 
Jonesboro',  remaining  in  Atlanta  with  Stewart's 
corps  and  the  militia.  On  the  30th  of  August 
Sherman  put  his  army  again  in  motion,  in  a  south 
easterly  direction,  aiming  to  strike  the  Macon  Rail 
road  from  'Rough  and  Ready'  to  Jonesboro'.  The 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  marching  from  Fairburn, 
crossed  Flint  River  in  the  latter  part  of  the  day, 
driving  the  enemy's  cavalry  before  it,  and  had  ap 
proached  to  within  half  a  mile  of  Jonesboro',  when 
it  encountered  Hardee,  and  Lee's  corps  strongly  in 
trenched  in  a  favorable  position,  and  where  night 
overtook  it.  The  remainder  of  the  army,  en  echelon 
towards  the  left,  did  not  succeed  in  getting  up  to 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  259 

the  railroad.  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  covered  our  right 
front  and  flank,  and  Garrard's  our  left  flank  and 
rear.  About  noon  on  the  next  day  (August  31) 
Hardee,  acting  probably  under  the  belief  that  but 
a  small  portion  of  our  infantry  was  opposed  to  him, 
sallied  from  his  works  around  Jonesboro',  and 
assaulted  the  lines  of  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth 
Corps.  The  assault  was  general,  but  it  lacked  that 
enthusiasm  and  dash  which  ordinarily  accompany 
the  headlong  attack  of  rebel  troops,  and  it  was  re 
pulsed  by  our  men  with  little  difficulty.  The  ene 
my  fell  back  to  his  lines  after  two  more  attempts 
to  assault,  leaving  his  dead  and  many  of  his 
wounded  in  our  hands.  His  loss  in  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners  was  more  than  two  thous 
and,  while  ours  was  not  as  many  hundreds.  The 
Fourth,  Fourteenth  and  Twenty-third  Corps  reach 
ed  the  railroad  during  the  course  of  the  day,  and 
thoroughly  destroyed  it,  from  '  Rough  and  Ready' 
to  within  two  miles  of  Jonesboro'.  During  the 
afternoon  of  the  next  day,  the  Fourteenth  Corps 
came  up  and  formed  on  the  left  of  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee.  The  Fourth  and  Twenty-third  be 
ing  still  at  the  rear,  with  but  slight  prospect  of 
their  getting  up  before  dark  to  strike  the  enemy  in 
rear,  General  Sherman  ordered  the  Fourteenth 
Corps  to  move  forward  to  the  assault  without  delay. 
Its  position  enabled  it  to  take  the  rebel  line 


260  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

flank.  Davis,  forming  his  troops  with  the  divisions 
of  Baird  and  Morgan  in  line,  and  the  division  of 
Carlin  in  support,  moved  handsomely  up,  crossed 
several  hundred  yards  of  open  field  under  a  heavy 
fire,  and  came  down  with  a  run  upon  the  enemy, 
whose  works  our  men  mounted  with  a  ringing 
cheer,  and  rolled  up  his  whole  right  fiank  like  a 
scroll.  Unfortunately,  our  remaining  troops  did 
not  get  up  in  season,  and  darkness  setting  in,  liar- 
dee  was  enabled  to  get  away.  But  for  this  his 
whole  corps  would  have  been  swept  off  like  chaff. 
As  it  was,  however,  Davis  captured  two  four-gun 
batteries,  and  Brigadier  General  G-owan  and  his 
entire  brigade  of  Cleburn's  division,  the  crack 
fighting  division  of  Hood's  army. 

"About  midnight,  heavy  explosions  and  the  bril 
liant  illumination  of  burning  supplies  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Atlanta,  twenty  miles  in  our  rear,  gave  us 
to  understand  that  Hood  had  at  last  comprehended 
his  situation  and  danger,  and  that,  to  save  his  army 
from  being  cut  in  two  and  crushed  in  detail,  he  had 
evacuated  his  stronghold,  and  Atlanta  was  ours. 

"At  daylight  next  morning  (September  2),  it  was 
discovered  that  Hardee  had  fallen  back  seven  miles, 
to  '  Lovejoy's  Station,'  where  good  fortune  had 
given  him  a  naturally  strong  position,  which  he 
speedily  intrenched,  and  where  Hood  effected  the 
junction  of  his  disunited  forces  the  same  day. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  261 

"Atlanta  captured,  our  task  was  done,  and,  as 
General  Sherman  announced  in  his  orders  of  the 
day,  was  'well  done.'  After  destroying  the  Macon 
Railroad  for  six  miles  toward  Lovejoy's,  the  differ 
ent  corps  at  once  took  up  their  positions  covering 
their  hard  won  acquisition.  Here  they  are  now 
engaged  resting  from  their  continuous  labor  of  four 
months,  and  reorganizing  and  refitting  for  a  new 
campaign,  and,  let  us  hope,  new  conquests. 

"  It  would  follow  too  soon  upon  the  momentous 
events  of  this  glorious  summer  campaign  in  Georgia, 
to  discuss  it  critically,  even  with  the  brevity  neces 
sary  for  a  magazine  article;  but  those  whose  good 
fortune  it  has  been  to  participate  in  it,  however 
humbly,  feel  an  honest  pride  in  believing  that  its 
story  will  hold  as  high  a  place  in  history  as  that  of 
any  other  in  the  present  war." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

SHERMAN  AND  THE  OCCUPATION  OF  ATLANTA. 

SHERMAN  A  MILITARY  GENIUS  —  OPINIONS  OF  HIS  CAM 
PAIGN THE  LONDON  TIMES  AND  LONDON  STAR MEAS 
URES  FOR  HOLDING  ATLANTA CITIZENS  ORDERED  FROM 

ATLANTA SHERMAN  AND  HOOD THEIR  CORRESPON 
DENCE AN  ATLANTA  EXILE PERMANENT  OCCUPA 
TION  INTENDED OPERATIONS  OF  FORREST  AND  OTH 
ERS —  HOOD'S  "NORTHERN  MOVEMENT ATTACK  AND 

REPULSE  AT  ALTOONA THE  PURSUIT HOOD  CROSSES 

THE    TENNESSEE -^-SHERMAN'S    PLANS — BATTLES    OF 

FRANKLIN  AND  NASHVILLE SHERMAN  RETURNS  TO 

ATLANTA A  FACETIOUS  LETTER. 


The  operations  of  General  Sherman's  army,  which 
resulted  in  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  and  which  have 
been  partially  recorded  in  the  three  previous  chap 
ters,  make  some  of  the  most  wonderful  pages  in  the 
history  of  war.  The  army  endured  long  marches, 
great  hardships  and  bloody  battles,  seemingly 
without  a  murmur  of  complaint.  The  artifices  to 
mislead  the  enemy  were  so  successful,  Sherman's 
inarches  were  so  well  guarded,  his  army  so  well  fed, 
his  battles  so  well  fought  and  won,  that  both  officers 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  263 

and  soldiers  deserve  the  highest  credit  and  praise, 
and  Sherman  has  proved  himself  a  military  genius. 

The  southern  people  were  made  to  believe  that 
so  far  as  Johnston  and  Hood  were  concerned,  they 
had  succeeded  in  "  drawing  Sherman  on ; "  that 
they  had  accomplished  the  very  thing  they  had  in 
tended  from  the  start,  and  now  that  they  had  him 
"just  where  they  wished,"  they  would  break  up 
his  long  line  of  communications,  compel  him  to 
evacuate  Atlanta  and  then  fall  ujtcfti  him  and  des 
troy  his  army.  The  people  of  the  North,  and  the 
army,  regarded  the  campaign  as  one  of  the  greatest, 
most  successful  and  decisive  of  the  war.  Even 
foreign  nations  and  foreign  papers  —  some  of  which 
were  not  remarkably  friendly  to  our  government  or 
army,  and  which  have  from  the  beginning  of  the 
war,  predicted  the  downfall  of  the  great  republic — 
were  constrained  to  admit  that  Sherman's  campaign 
was  a  great  success. 

The  London  Times,  a  paper  of  more  influence 
than  any  other  in  England,  and  more  hostile  to  our 
government  than  any  other  paper  published  beyond 
the  ocean,  thus  speaks  of  this  wonderful  campaign  : 

"  Nobody  imagined  that  a  Northern  army  could 
penetrate  so  far  into  the  South  and  maintain  itself 
so  securely  as  Sherman's  army  has  now  done  for 
months  together.  Neither  the  distance  from  the 


264 


base  of  his  operations,  nor  the  difficulties  of  ob 
taining  supplies,  nor  any  of  the  numerous  embar 
rassments  incidental  to  a  position  in  a  hostile 
country,  have  impeded  his  proceedings.  He  can 
hold  his  own  in  the  heart  of  Georgia  and  encounter 
the  Confederates  on  equal  terms.  He  may  yet  be 
repulsed,  but  he  has  shown  that  there  is  nothing 
impracticable  in  an  expedition  which  would  have 
been  thought  desperate  at  an  earlier  period  of  the 
war.  The  capture  of  Atlanta  may  fairly  be  re 
garded  as  crowning  with  success  the  campaign  of 
the  Northwestern  Army  of  the  Union.  The  results 
of  the  achievements  are  still  to  be  seen ;  nor  is  it, 
indeed,  yet  certain  that  General  Sherman  will  be 
able  to  retain  his  prize,  but  it  is  a  prize  nevertheless, 
for  it  represents  the  object  which  the  Federal  com 
mander  proposed  to  himself  from  the  beginning  of 
his  expedition.  Never,  since  the  commencement 
of  the  war,  has  a  Federal  force  plunged  so  intrep 
idly  into  Confederate  territory.  The  Confederates 
have  lost  an  important  position  and  been  un 
successful  in  a  campaign.  They  have  not,  however, 
lost  an  army,  nor  any  considerable  quantity  of  mu 
nitions  or  stores.  The  Federals  have  taken  a  turn 
in  a  State  hitherto  inaccessible  to  their  armies,  and 
can  boast  of  an  army  quartered  in  Georgia. 

"  One  of  the  great  objects  of  the  campaign  in 
Georgia  was  the  destruction  of  the  Confederate 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  265 

army,  and  that  has  not  been  attained.  General 
Hood  remains  in  command  of  a  force  which,  though 
it  is  not  a  match  for  Sherman's  army,  is  nevertheless 
strong,  well  organized  and  safe." 

Such  are  the  forced  admissions  of  the  London 
Times,  a  paper  that  has  constantly  wielded  a  large 
influence  in  favor  of  the  enemies  of  the  Republic. 
Let  not  the  reader,  however,  imagine  that  our  cause 
and  our  great  generals  had  not  a  more  candid,  un 
prejudiced  and  sensible  advocate  among  the  people 
of  England,  than  the  London  Times. 

We  take  pleasure  in  here  recording  the  just  and 
truthful  remarks  of  the  London  Star,  a  paper  not  un 
friendly  to  our  country  and  her  brave  and  successful 
armies : 

"  Sherman's  army  has  occupied  Atlanta.  The 
latter  is  one  of  those  victories  which  form  the 
turning  points  of  great  wars.  It  has  been  the  ob 
ject  of  the  campaign  of  an  army  of  probably  80,000 
men,  under  one  of  the  best  generals  of  the  North, 
who,  with  rare  pertinacity  and  caution  has  advanced, 
step  by  step  into  the  enemy's  country,  and  who  has 
won  by  assaults,  now  by  strategy,  beaten  back  the 
Southern  army  until  at  length  the  city  at  which  he 
aimed  has  fallen  into  his  grasp.  The  steady  ad 
vance  of  the  North  on  those  Western  fields  of  con 
flict  has  been  as  uniform  as  their  failures  in  Eastern 


266  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Virginia — before  the  existing  campaign — have 
been  conspicuous. 

"  From  Cairo  to  Atlanta  constitutes  a  record  of 
the  most  brilliant  success  which  any  army  could 
hope  to  achieve.  That  obstacles  and  defeats  have 
been  encountered  only  makes  the  persistence,  which 
has  at  length  obtained  victory,  shine  out  with 
greater  lustre.  Kentucky  was  cleared  of  the  great 
rebel  armies  in  1862 ;  Tennessee  was  fought  for  and 
won  in  1863,  and  the  summer  campaign  of  1864, 
more  arduous  than  either  of  the  preceding,  has 
rolled  back  the  Confederates  from  the  North  of 
Georgia  and  placed  Atlanta,  the  Birmingham  of 
the  West,  at  the  feet  of  the  conqueror. 

"  The  success  of  Sherman  may  be  measured  by 
the  hazardous  nature  of  his  campaign  and  the 
physical  difficulties  which  he  had  to  surmount,  as 
well  as  by  the  strength  of  the  army  opposed  to  him 
and  the  value  of  his  acquisitions.  So  bold  was 
his  advance,  and  so  eminently  perilous,  that  the 
Southern  people  not  only  refused  to  believe  in  the 
possibility  of  its  success,  but  chuckled  complacently 
at  what  they  believed  to  be  the  profound  policy  of 
Johnston  in  retreating  to  draw  Sherman  still  further 
from  his  base.  Many  in  this  country  whose  zeal 
for  the  South  constantly  leads  them  into  blunders, 
eagerly  swallowed  this  version  of  an  advance  which 
all  sensible  writers  treated  as  a  most  threatening 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  267 

invasion,  and  even  after  Sherman  had  shown,  by 
repeated  battles  and  continued  advances  that  he 
was  not  an  assailant  to  be  despised,  these  unfortu 
nate  prophets  have  never  ceased  to  consign  him 
weekly,  to  destruction. 

"  No  doubt  they  will  now  inform,  us  that  Hood 
has  given  up  Atlanta  as  a  strategic  measure  for  the 
purpose  of  drawing  Sherman  on  to  Macon,  at  which 
point  a  most  dreadful  fate  awaits  him.  Hood,  how 
ever,  is  not  a  scientific  but  a  fighting  general,  and 
he  and  Sherman  had  another  fierce  conflict  at  the 
Macon  Iload,  in  which  the  Confederates  were  se 
verely  handled.  This  is  another  proof  of  the 
hopeless  inferiority  of  the  Confederate  to  that  of 
the  Union  army." 

"We  must  now  resume  the  narrative.  As  soon 
as  Sherman  had  occupied  Atlanta,  he  began  to 
strengthen  and  protect  his  communications  with 
Chattanooga  and  the  North ;  well  knowing  that  the 
enemy  would  attempt  to  destroy  them  and  thus 
compel  the  evacuation  of  Atlanta.  He  also  some 
what  strengthened  the  fortifications  of  Atlanta,  and 
that  his  plans  might  be  kept  from  the  enemy,  he 
issued  an  order  compelling  all  citizens  to  leave  the 
place,  giving  them  the  choice  of  going  South  or 
North.  This  was  denounced  by  the  enemy  and 
their  friends  in  the  North  and  in  England,  as 
an  unheard  of  cruelty.  In  this  order,  the  wisdom 


268 

of  which  is  not  now  doubted,  General  Sherman 
said :  "  Citizens  are  requested  to  leave  Atlanta  and 
proceed  either  North  or  South.  The  government 
will  furnish  transportation  South  as  far  as  Rough 
and  Ready;  North  as  far  as  Chattanooga.  All 
citizens  may  take  their  movable  property  with 
them.  Transportation  will  be  furnished  for  all 
movables.  Negroes  who  wish  to  do  so  may  go 
with  their  masters,  other  male  negroes  will  be  put 
in  government  employ,  and  the  women  and  children 
sent  outside  the  lines." 

That  this  order  might  be  carried  out,  an  agree 
ment  was  entered  into  between  Sherman  and  Hood 
for  a  truce  to  last  ten  days. 

The  correspondence  that  follows  will  give  full 
information  on  this  subject,  and  will  go  very  far  to 
justify  the  course  of  General  Sherman : 

THE  DEPOPULATION  OF  ATLANTA— CORRESPONDENCE  OF 
GENERAL  SHERMAN. 

REPLY  TO  GENERAL  HOOD. 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  "| 

MISSISSIPPI,  AND  IN  THE  FlELD,  > 

ATLANTA,  GA.,  Sept.  10,  1864.     J 

General  J.  B.  HOOD,    commanding  Army  of  the 

Tennessee,  Confederate  Army : 

GENERAL  :  — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  letter  of  this  date  at  the  hands  of 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  269 

Messrs.  Ball  and  Crew,  consenting  to  the  arrange 
ments  I  had  proposed  to  facilitate  the  removal 
South,  of  the  people  of  Atlanta  who  prefer  to  go 
in  that  direction.  I  enclose  you  a  copy  of  my 
orders,  which  will,  I  am  satisfied,  accomplish  my 
purpose  perfectly.  You  style  the  measures  pro 
posed  "  unprecedented,"  and  appeal  to  the  dark 
history  of  war  for  a  parallel  as  an  act  of  "  studied 
and  ungenerous  cruelty."  It  is  not  unprecedented, 
for  General  Johnston  himself  very  wisely  and 
properly  removed  the  families  all  the  way  from 
Dalton  down,  and  I  see  no  reason  why  Atlanta 
should  he  excepted.  Nor  is  it  necessary  to  appeal 
to  the  dark  history  of  war  when  recent  and  modern 
examples  are  so  handy.  You  yourself  burned 
dwelling  houses  along  your  parapet,  and  I  have 
seen  to-day,  fifty  houses  that  you  have  rendered 
uninhabitable  because  they  stood  in  the  way  of 
your  forts  and  men.  You  defended  Atlanta  on  a 
line  so  close  to  the  town  that  every  cannon  shot 
and  many  musket  shots  from  our  line  of  invest 
ments,  that  overshot  their  mark,  went  into  the 
habitations  of  women  and  children.  General 
Hardee  did  the  same  at  Jonesboro',  and  General 
Johnston  did  the  same  last  summer  at  Jackson, 
Miss.  I  have  not  accused  you  of  heartless  cruelty, 
but  merely  instance  these  cases  of  very  recent 
occurrence,  and  could  go  on  and  enumerate  hun 
dreds  of  others,  and  challenge  any  fair  man  to 


270  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

judge  which  of  us  has  the  heart  of  pity  for  the 
families  of  a  "  brave  people."  I  say  it  is  kindness 
to  these  families  of  Atlanta  to  remove  them  now  at 
once  from  scenes  that  women  and  children  should 
not  he  exposed  to ;  and  the  brave  people  should 
scorn  to  commit  their  wives  and  children  to  the 
rude  barbarians  who  thus,  as  you  say,  violate  the 
laws  of  war,  as  illustrated  in  the  pages  of  its  dark 
history.  In  the  name  of  common  sense,  I  ask  you 
not  to  appeal  to  a  just  God  in  such  a  sacrilegious 
manner, — you,  who  in  the  midst  of  peace  and 
prosperity,  have  plunged  a  nation  into  civil  war, 
"  dark  and  cruel  war,"  who  dared  and  badgered  us 
to  battle,  insulted  our  flag,  seized  our  arsenals  and 
forts  that  were  left  in  the  honorable  custody  of  a 
peaceful  ordnance  sergeant,  seized  and  made  pris 
oners  of  war  the  very  garrisons  sent  to  protect  your 
people  against  Negroes  and  Indians,  long  before  any 
overt  act  was  committed  by  the  (to  you)  hateful 
Lincoln  Government,  tried  to  force  Kentucky  and 
Missouri  into  the  rebellion  in  spite  of  themselves, 
falsified  the  vote  of  Louisiana,  turned  loose  your 
privateers  to  plunder  unarmed  ships,  expelled 
Union  families  by  the  thousand,  burned  their 
houses,  and  declared  by  act  of  your  Congress  the 
confiscation  of  all  debts  due  Northern  men "  for 
goods  had  and  received.  Talk  thus  to  the  marines, 
but  not  to  me,  who  have  seen  these  things,  and  who 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  271 

will  this  day  make  as  much  sacrifice  for  the  peace 
and  honor  of  the  South  as  the  best  born  Southerner 
among  you.  If  we  must  be  enemies,  let  us  be 
men,  and  fight  it  out,  as  we  propose  to-day,  and  not 
deal  in  such  hypocritical  appeals  to  God  and  hu 
manity.  God  will  judge  us  in  due  time,  and  he 
will  pronounce  whether  it  be  more  humane  to  fight 
with  a  town  full  of  women  and  the  families  of  a 
"  brave  people  "  at  our  back,  or  to  remove  them  in 
time  to  places  of  safety  among  their  own  friends 
and  people. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed,)  W.  T.  SHERMAK, 

Major- General  Commanding. 
Official  copy : 

Signed,  L.  M.  DAYTON,  A.  D.  C- 

FROM   THE   AUTHORITIES    OF   ATLANTA. 

ATLANTA,  Ga.,  September  11, 1864. 
Major  General  "W.  T.  SHERMAN  : 

SIR — The  undersigned,  mayor  and  two  members 
of  council  for  the  city  of  Atlanta,  for  the  time 
being  the  only  legal  organ  of  the  people  of  the 
said  city  to  express  their  wants  and  wishes,  ask 
leave  most  earnestly,  but  respectfully,  to  petition 
you  to  reconsider  the  order  requiring  them  to 
leave  Atlanta.  At  first  view,  it  struck  us  that  the 
measure  would  involve  extraordinary  hardship  and 


272  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

loss ;  but  since  we  have  seen  the  practical  execu 
tion  of  it,  so  far  as  it  has  progressed,  and  the  indi 
vidual  condition  of  many  of  the  people,  and  heard 
the  statements  as  to  the  inconveniences,  loss  and 
suffering  attending  it,  we  are  satisfied  that  the 
amount  of  it  will  involve  in  the  aggregate 
consequences  appalling  and  heart-rending. 

Many  poor  women  are  in  the  advanced  s#ate  of 
pregnancy;  others  having  young  children,  whose 
husbands,  for  the  greater  part,  are  either  in  the 
army,  prisoners,  or  dead.  Some  say:  "  I  have  such 
a  one  sick  in  my  house ;  who  will  wait  on  them 
when  I  am  gone  ? "  Others  say :  "  "What  are  we  to 
do  ?  we  have  no  houses  to  go  to,  and  no  means  to 
buy,  build  or  rent  any;  no  parents,  relatives  or 
friends  to  go  to."  Another  says :  "  I  will  try  and 
take  this  or  that  article  of  property ;  but  such  and 
such  things  I  must  leave  behind,  though  I  need 
them  much."  We  reply  to  them  :  "  General  Sher 
man  will  carry  your  property  to  Rough  and  Ready, 
and  then  General  Hood  will  take  it  thence  on." 
And  they  will  reply  to  that :  "  But  I  want  to  leave 
the  railroad  at  such  a  place,  and  cannot  get  con 
veyance  from  thence  on." 

We  only  refer  to  a  few  facts  to  illustrate  in  part 
how  this  measure  will  operate  in  practice.  As  you 
advanced,  the  people  north  of  us  fell  back,  and 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  273 

before  your  arrival  here  a  large  portion  of  the  peo 
ple  here  had  retired  South;  so  that  the  country 
south  of  this  is  already  crowded,  and  without  suffi 
cient  houses  to  accommodate  the  people,  and  we 
are  informed  that  many  are  now  staying  in  churches 
and  other  out-buildings.  This  being  so,  how  is  it 
possible  for  the  people  still  here  (mostly  women  and 
children)  to  find  shelter,  and  how  can  they  live 
through  the  winter  in  the  woods — no  shelter  or 
subsistence — in  the  midst  of  strangers,  who  know 
them  not,  and  without  the  power  to  assist  them 
much^  if  they  were  willing  to  do  so. 

This  is  but  a  feeble  picture  of  the  consequences 
of  this  measure.  You  know  the  woe,  the  horror 
and  the  suffering  cannot  be  described  by  words. 
Imagination  can  only  conceive  of  it ;  and  we  ask 
you  to  take  these  things  into  consideration.  "We 
know  your  mind  and  time  are  continually  occupied 
with  the  duties  of  your  command,  which  almost 
deters  us  from  asking  your  attention  to  the  matter; 
but  thought  it  might  be  that  you  had  not  consid 
ered  the  subject  in  all  of  its  awful  consequences, 
and  that,  on  reflection,  you,  we  hope,  would  not 
make  this  people  an  exception  to  all  mankind ;  for 
we  know  of  no  such  instance  ever  having  occurred 
—  surely  not  in  the  United  States.  And  what  has 
this  helpless  people  done,  that  they  should  be  driven 
from  their  homes,  to  wander  as  strangers,  outcasts 
and  exiles,  and  to  subsist  on  charity? 


274 

We  do  not  know  as  yet  the  number  of  people 
still  here.  Of  those  who  are  here,  a  respectable 
number,  if  allowed  to  remain  at  home,  could  sub 
sist  for  several  months  without  assistance ;  and  a 
respectable  number  for  a  much  longer  time,  and 
who  might  not  need  assistance  at  any  time. 

In  conclusion,  we  most  earnestly  and  solemnly 
petition  you  to  reconsider  this  order,  or  modify  it, 
and  suffer  this  unfortunate  people  to  remain  at 
home  and  enjoy,  what  little  means  they  have. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

JAMES  M.  CALHOIIN",  Mayor. 

E.  E.  RAWSON,  1  n       .-, 
8.  C.  WELLS,  '\Owunbnen. 

GENERAL  SHERMAN'S  REPLY. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  or  THE  } 

MISSISSIPPI,  AND  IN  THE  FlELD,  V 

ATLANTA,  Ga.,  Sept.  12, 1864.  ) 
JAMES  M.  CALHOUN,  Mayor ;  E.  E.  RAWSON  and  S. 
C.  WELLS,  representing  City  Council  of  Atlanta : 
GENTLEMEN — I  have  your  letter  of  the  llth,  in 
the  nature  of  a  petition  to  revoke  my  orders  remov 
ing  all  the  inhabitants  from  Atlanta.  I  have  read 
it  carefully,  and  give  full  credit  to  your  statements 
of  the  distress  that  will  be  occasioned  by  it,  and 
yet  shall  not  revoke  my  order,  simply  because  my 
orders  are  not  designed  to  meet  the  humanities  of 
the  case,  but  to  prepare  for  the  future  struggles,  in 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  y        275 

which  millions,  yes,  hundreds  of  millions  of  good 
people  outside  of  Atlanta  have  a  deep  interest.  We 
must  have  Peace,  not  only  in  Atlanta,  but  in 
America.  J  To  secure  this,  we  must  stop  the  war 
that  now  desolates  our  once  happy  ancj.  favored 
country.  To  stop  war,  we  must  defeat  the  rebel 
armies  that  are  arrayed  against  the  laws  and  Con 
stitution  which  all  must  respect  and  obey.  To  de 
feat  these  armies,  we  must  prepare  the  way  to 
reach  them  in  their  recesses,  provided  with  the 
arms  and  instruments  which  enable  us  to  accomplish 
our  purpose. 

Now,  I  know  the  vindictive  nature  of  our  enemy, 
and  that  we  may  have  many  years  of  military  ope 
rations  from  this  quarter,  and  therefore  deem  it 
wise  and  prudent  to  prepare  in  time.  The  use  of 
Atlanta  for  warlike  purposes  is  inconsistent  with 
its  character  as  a  home  for  families.  There  will  be 
no  manufactures,  commerce  or  agriculture  here  for 
the  maintenance  of  families,  and  sooner  or  later 
want  will  compel  the  inhabitants  to  go.  Why  not 
go  now,  when  all  the  arrangements  are  completed 
for  the  transfer,  instead  of  waiting  till  the  plunging 
shot  of  contending^  armies  will  renew  the  scene  of 
the  past  month?  /Of  course,  I  do  not  apprehend 
any  such  thing  at  this  moment ;  but  you  do  not 
suppose  that  this  army  will  be  here  till  the  war  is 
ovei\  I  cannot  discuss  this  subject  with  you  fairly, 


276  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

because  I  cannot  impart  to  you  what  I  propose  to 
do ;  but  I  assert  that  my  military  plans  make  it 
necessary  for  the  inhabitants  to  go  away,  and  I  can 
only  renew  my  offer  of  services  to  make  their  ex 
odus  in  any  direction  as  easy  and  comfortable  as 
possible.  You  cannot  qualify  war  in  harsher  terms 
thanXwiil.  War  is  cruelty,  and  you  cannot  refine 
it;  aud  those  who  brought  war  on  our  country  de 
serve  all  the  curses  and  maledictions  a  people  can 
pour  out.  I  know  I  had  no  hand  in  making  this 
war,  and  I  know  I  will  make  more  sacrifices  to-day 
than  any  of  you  to  secure  peace.  But  you  cannot 
have  peace  and  a  division  of  our  country.  If  the 
United  States  submits  to  a  division  now,  it  will  not 
stop,  but  will  go  on  till  we  reap  the  fate  of  Mexico, 
which  is  eternal  war.  The  United  States  does  and 
must  assert  its  authority  wherever  it  has  power;  if 
it  relaxes  one  bit  to  pressure,  it  is  gone,  and  I  know 
that  such  is  not  the  national  feeling.  This  feeling 
assumes  various  shapes,  but  always  comes  back  to 
that  of  Union.  Ojace  admit .the-Union,  once  more 
acknowledge  the  authority  of  the  National  Govern 
ment,  and  instead  of  devoting  your  houses  and 
streets  and  roads  to  the  dread  uses  of  war,  I  and 
this  army  become  at  once  your  protectors  and  sup 
porters,  shielding  you  from  danger,  let  it  come 
from  what  quarter  it  may.  I  know  that  a  few  indi 
viduals  cannot  resist  a  torrent  of  error  and  passion, 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  277 

such  as  has  swept  the 'South  into  rebellion ;  but 
you  can  point  out,  so  that  we  may  know  those  who 
desire  a  government,  and  those  who  insist  upon 
war  and  its  desolation. 

You  might  as  well  appeal  against  the  thunder 
storm  as  against  these  terrible  hardships  of  war. 
They  are  inevitable;  and  the  only  way  the  people 
of  Atlanta  can  hope  once  more  to  live  in  peace  and 
quiet^at  home,  is  to  stop  this  war — which  can  alone 
be  done  by  admitting  that  it  began  in  error,  and  is 
perpetuated  in  pride.  We  don't  want  your  negroes, 
or  your  horses,  or  your  houses,  or  your  land,  or 
anything  you  have ;  but  we  do  want  and  will  have 
a  just  obedience  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States. 
That  wTe  will  have;  and  if  it  involves  the  destruc 
tion  of  your  improvements,  we  cannot  help  it. 
You  liuvc  heretofore  read  public  sentiment  in  your 
newspapers  that  live  by  falsehood  and  excitement, 
and  the  quicker  you  seek  for  truth  in  other  quarters, 
the  better  for  you. 

I  repeat  then,  that  by  the  original  compact  of 
government,  the  United  States  had  certain  rights  in 
Georgia,  which  have  never  been  relinquished,  and 
never  will  be ;  that  the  South  began  war  by  seizing 
forts,  arsenals,  mints,  custom  houses,  &c.,  long  be 
fore  Mr.  Lincoln  was  installed,  and  before  the  South 
had  one  jot  or  tittle  of  provocation.  I  myself,  have 
seen  in  Missouri,  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  part  of 

V 


278 

Mississippi,  hundreds  and  thousands  of  women  and 
children  fleeing  from  your  armies  and  desperadoes, 
hungry  and  with  bleeding  feet.  In  Memphis,  Yicks- 
burgh  and  Mississippi,  we  fed  thousands  upon,  thou 
sands  of  the  families  of  rebel  soldiers  left  on  our 
hands,  and  whom  we  could  not  see  starve.  IsTow  that 
war  comes  home  to  you,  you  feel  very  differently; 
you  deprecate  its  horrors,  but  did  not  feel  them 
when  you  sent  car  loads  of  soldiers  and  ammuni 
tion,  and  moulded  shell  and  shot,  to  carry  war  into 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and  desolate  the  homes 
of  hundreds  and  thousands  of  good  people,  who 
only  asked  to  live  in  peace  at  their  old  homes,  and 
under  the  government  of  their  inheritance.  But 
these  comparisons  are  idle.  I  want  peace,  and  be 
lieve  it  can  only  be  reached  through  Union  and 
war,  and  I  will  ever  conduct  war  purely  with  a  view 
to  perfect  and  early  success. 

But,  my  dear  sirs,  when  that  peace  does  come, 
you  may  call  on  me  for  anything.  Then  will  I 
share  with  you  the  last  cracker,  and  watch  with 
you  to  shield  your  homes  and  families  against 
danger  from  every  quarter.  ISTow  you  must  go  and 
take  with  you  the  old  and  feeble ;  feed  and  nurse 
them,  and  build  for  them  in  more  quiet  places 
proper  habitations,  to  shield  them  against  the 
weather,  until  the  mad  passions  of  men  cool  down, 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  279 

and  allow  Union  and  Peace  once  more  to  settle 
on  your  old  homes  at  Atlanta. 

Yours  in  haste, 
W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major-General 

A  FALSEHOOD  CORRECTED. 

ATLANTA,  September  24,  1864. 
To  the  Louisville  Agent  of  the  New  York  Asso 
ciated  Press :  — 

Your  press  dispatches  of  the  21st  embrace  one 
from  Macon  of  the  14th,  announcing  the  arrival  of 
the  first  train  of  refugees  from  Atlanta,  with  this 
addition,  "  that  they  were  robbed  of  everything  be 
fore  being  sent  into  the  rebel  lines/'  Of  course, 
that  is  false ;  and  it  is  idle  to  correct  it  so  far  as  the 
rebels  are  concerned,  for  they  purposed  it  as  a 
falsehood,  to  create  a  mischievous  public  opinion. 
The  truth  is,  that  during  the  truce,  446  families 
were  moved  south,  making  705  adults,  860  children 
and  479  servants,  with  1,651  pounds  of  furniture 
and  household  goods  on  the  average  for  each 
family,  of  which  we  have  a  perfect  recollection  by 
name  and  articles.  At  the  end  of  the  truce, 
Colonel  Warner  of  my  staff,  who  had  general  su 
pervision  of  the  business,  received  from  Major 
Clan,  of  General  Hood's  staff,  the  following  letter : 


280  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

"  ROUGH  AND  READY,  Sept.  21,  1864. 
"  COLONEL:  —  Our  official  communication  being 
about  to  close,  you  will  permit  me  to  bear  testi 
mony  to  the  uniform  courtesy  you  have  shown  on 
all  occasions  to  me  and  my  people,  and  the  prompt 
ness  with  which  you  have  corrected  all  irregu 
larities  arising  in  our  intercourse.  Hoping  at  some 
future  time  to  be  able  to  reciprocate  your  court- 
eousness,  and  in  many  instances  your  positive 
kindness,  I  am  with  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

"TLT.  CLAN, 
"  Major  and  A.  A.  6r.,  General  Hood's  Staff. 

"  Lieutenant  Colonel  WILLARD  WARNER,  of  Gen 
eral  Sherman's  Staff." 

I  would  not  notice  this,  but  I  know  the  people  of 
the  North,  liable  to  be  misled  by  a  falsehood  calcu 
lated  for  special  purposes,  and  by  a  desperate 
enemy,  will  be  relieved  by  this  assurance,  that  not 
only  care,  but  real  kindness  has  been  extended  to 
families  who  lost  their  homes  by  the  act  of  their 
male  protectors. 

(Signed,)  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major-  G-eneral  Commanding. 

The  following  letter  from  one  of  the  exiles  of 
Atlanta,  will  be  read  with  interest.  How  much  of 
it  may  be  regarded  as  apocryphal,  will  be  left  to  the 
judgment  of  the  reader : 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  281 

([From  the  Eatonton  Countryman.] 

EATONTON,  GA.,  November  4,  1864. 
J.  A.  TURNER,  ESQ. — 

DEAR  SIR  :  At  your  request,  I  have  written 
down  all  the  points  of  interest  furnished  me  by 
my  friend,  connected  with  her  leaving  Atlanta,  &c. 
I  have  written  it  hastily,  and  leave  it  for  you  to 
condense  as  you  may  deem  proper.  Hoping  its 
publication  may  prove  of  some  interest  to  your 
readers,  I  proceed  as  follows  : 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  a  very  intel 
ligent  lady,  a  few  days  since,  one  of  the  exiles  from 
Atlanta  under  the  late  order  of  General  Sherman 
banishing  the  citizens  from  that  place,  who  fur 
nished  me  with  some  facts  which  may  prove  of  in 
terest  to  your  readers.  As  soon  as  the  Yankees 
obtained  possession  of  the  city,  the  officers  began 
to  hunt  up  comfortable  quarters,  and  the  lady  of 
whom  I  speak  found  herself  under  the  necessity  of 
taking  three  of  them  as  boarders,  or  of  submitting 
to  the  confiscation  of  her  house  to  the  purpose  of 
sheltering  our  foe.  Those  who  boarded  with  Mrs. 

proved  to  be  very  gentlemanly  fellows,  and 

rendered  her  service  in  protecting  Jier  from  the  in 
trusion  of  the  private  soldiers,  besides  aiding  her 
in  disposing  of  her  cows  and  hogs  when  she  was 
compelled  to  leave.  A  neighbor  of  hers,  whose 
husband  had  rendered  himself  obnoxious  to  the 


282 

Yankees  by  Ms  services  to  the  South,  was  ordered 
by  a  Yankee  general  to  vacate  her  premises  in  two 
hours,  and  a  guard  was  stationed  to  prevent  her 
from  moving  her  effects. 

Referring  to  this  evacuation  of  the  trenches 
around  the  city,  he  asked  the  lady  if  they  did  not 
all  think  he  was  retreating,  and  when  she  replied 
that  some  did  think  so,  he  laughed  heartily  at  the 
idea,  and  remarked  :  "I  played  Hood  a  real  Yan 
kee  trick  that  time,  didn't  I  ?  He  thought  I  was 
running  away,  but  he  soon  had  to  pull  up  stakes 
and  run  himself.'3  (I  wonder  whose  turn  it  is  to 
laugh  now ! ) 

The  lady  from  whom  these  facts  were  obtained 
says  that  Sherman  had  a  vast  number  of  applica 
tions  from  ladies,  and  others,  in  reference  to  their 
moving,  and  that,  so  far  as  she  could  learn,  he  was 
patient,  gentlemanly  and  obliging,  as  much  so  as 
he  could  be  to  them  consistently  with  his  prescribed 
policy. 

This  lady  appealed  to  General  Sherman,  who 
immediately  ordered  the  removal  of  the  guard,  and 
permitted  her  to  remove  or  sell  any  or  all  of  her 
furniture,  and  other  valuables,  at  her  discretion. 
The  lady  with  whom  I  conversed  was  under  the 
necessity  of  calling  upon  General  Sherman,  after 
the  publication  of  his  banishment,  and  she  repre 
sents  him  as  being  very  kind  and  conciliatory  in 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  283 

Ms  deportment  towards  her  and  others  who  visited 
Mm.  lie  expressed  much  regret  at  the  necessity 
which  compelled  him  to  order  the  citizens  of  At 
lanta  from  their  homes ;  but  stated,  in  justification 
of  his  course,  that  he  intended  to  make  Atlanta  a 
second  Gibraltar ;  that,  when  he  completed  his  de 
fensive  works,  it  would  be  impregnable;  and  as  no 
communication  could  be  held  with  their  friends  in 
the  South,  they  (the  citizens)  would  suffer  for  food ; 
that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  subsist  his  army, 
and  feed  the  citizens  too,  by  a  single  line  of  rail 
road  ;  and  that,  as  he  intended  to  hold  Atlanta  at 
all  hazards,  he  thought  it  was  humanity  to  send 
them  out  of  the  city,  where  they  could  obtain 
necessary  supplies. 

He  took  the  little  child  of  my  friend  in  his  arms, 
and  patted  her  rosy  cheeks,  calling  her  a  '  poor 
little  exile,'  and  saying  he  was  sorry  to  drive  her 
away  from  her.  comfortable  home,  but  that  war  was 
a  cruel  and  inexorable  thing,  and  its  necessities 
compelled  him  to  do  many  things  which  he  heartily 
regretted.  In  conversation  with  the  lady,  he  paid 
a  just  and  well-merited  tribute  to  the  valor  of  our 
arms.  He  remarked  that  it  would  be  no  disgrace 
to  us  if  we  were  finally  subjugated — as  we  certainly 
would  be — as  we  had  fought  against  four  or  five 
times  our  number  with  a  degree  of  valor  which 
had  excited  the  admiration  of  the  world;  and  the 


284  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

United  States  Government  would  gain  no  honor 
or  credit  if  they  succeeded  in  their  purpose,  as 
they  had  thus  far  failed  with  five  men  in  the  field 
to  our  one. 

He  regarded  the  Southern  soldiers  as  the  bravest 
in  the  world,  and  admitted  that  in  a  fair  field  fight 
we  could  whip  them  two  to  our  one;  but  he  claimed 
for  himself  and  his  compeers  the  credit  of  possess 
ing  more  strategic  ability  than  our  generals.  "  You 
can  beat  us  in  fighting,  madam,"  said  he.  "  but  we 
can  out-manoeuvre  you ;  your  generals  do  not  work 
half  enough ;  we  work  day  and  night,  and  spare  no 
labor  nor  pains  to  carry  out  our  plans." 

He  permitted  her  to  bring  out  her  horse  and 
rockaway,  although  his  army  was  greatly  needing 
horses  at  the  time,  and  also  to  send  her  provisions 
to  some  suffering  relatives  within  his  lines.  She 
speaks  in  high  terms  of  the  discipline  of  the  Yan 
kee  army;  says  that  the  privates  are  more  afraid  of 
their  officers  than  our  slaves  are  of  their  masters, 
and  that  during  her  stay  there  was  no  disorderly 
conduct  to  be  seen  anywhere ;  but  that  quiet  and 
good  order  prevailed  throughout  the  city. 

An  instance  of  Yankee  kindness  deserves  to  be 
mentioned  here.  A  widow  lady,  whose  husband 
had  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
died,  shortly  after  the  occupation  of  the  city  by  the 
enemy.  The  Yankee  officers  gave  her  a  decent 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  285 

and  respectable  burial,  and  then  took  her  three 
orphan  children  and  sent  them  to  their  own  homes, 
to  be  educated  at  some  Masonic  institution  in  the 
North. 

From  the  facts  which  I  report,  on  the  authority 
of  a  lady  of  unquestioned  veracity  and  respecta 
bility,  it  will  be  seen  that  our  barbarous  foes  are 
not  entirely  lost  "to  all  the  dictates  and  impulses  of 
humanity.  Would  to  God  that  the  exhibition  of 
it  were  more  frequent  in  their  occurrence. 
Respectfully,  yours, 

GEORGE  G.  N.  MACDONELL. 

It  was  generally  believed  that  Sherman  intended 
to  hold  Atlanta  permanently,  as  a  base  of  future 
operations.  But  whoever  will  consider  the  various 
lines  of  communication,  and  their  total  length,  will 
see  at  a  glance  that  he  never  could  have  entertained 
such  an  idea  for  a  moment.  The  distance  from 
Louisville,  Ky.,  on  the  Ohio  River,  to  Nashville,  is 
185  miles;  from  Nashville  to  Chattanooga,  151 
miles;  and  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  136 
miles.  Total  distance,  472  miles.  Over  this  long 
route  supplies  were  carried  to  Atlanta.  Thus  it  is 
evident  that  it  would  take  a  very  large  force  to 
guard  and  keep  open  this  line  of  communications. 
The  enemy,  however,  supposed  this  was  Sherman's 
purpose,  and  at  once  set  to  work  with  their  cavalry, 
on  the  lines  of  communication. 


286  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

A  strong  force,  under  command  of  General  For 
rest,  appeared  in  Northern  Alabama,  where  they 
compelled  the  garrison  at  Athens,  Ala.,  under  com 
mand  of  Colonel  Campbell,  after  a  fight  of  two 
hours'  duration,  to  surrender.  The  garrison  con 
sisted  of  five  hundred  men  of  the  Sixth  and  Eighth 
Indiana  cavalry.  A  detachment  of  three  hundred 
men,  sent  from  Decatur,  Ala.,  to  reenforce  the  gar 
rison  at  Athens,  were,  after  a  most  obstinate 
engagement,  captured.  Forrest  then  destroyed 
several  miles  of  the  Tennessee  and  Alabama  Rail 
road  between  Decatur  and  Athens,  and  all  the 
bridges  on  the  road.  He  then  advanced  towards 
Pulaski,  Tenn.,  a  village  seventy-five  miles  south 
of  Nashville.  General  L.  H.  Rousseau  advanced 
to  meet  Forrest  with  the  force  of  infantry  and  cav 
alry  under  his  command.  He  was  hard  pressed  by 
the  enemy,  and  was  compelled  to  fall  back  slowly. 
Rousseau  subsequently  readvanced  and  maintained 
his  position.  While  Rousseau  was  engaged  with 
Forrest  near  Pulaski,  a  detachment  from  the  rebel 
forces  passed  around  Pulaski,  and  severed  the 
communication  between  that  place  and  Nashville. 
In  the  mean  time,  guerrillas  in  Kentucky  captured 
two  trains  of  cars  on  the  route  from  Louisville  to 
Nashville.  They  burned  nineteen  cars. 

On- the  29th  of  October,  three  days  after  Rousseau 
met  Forrest  at  Pulaski,  "Wheeler  and  Roddy  were 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  287 

north  of  Decatur,  Alabama,  making  their  way  to 
wards  the  Railroad  between  that  place  and  Chat 
tanooga  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  Railroad 
between  Huntsville  and  Stevenson,  and  then  effect 
a  junction  with  Forrest  at  Tullahoma,  Tennessee. 
Gen.  Rousseau  changed  his  operations  to  the  Chat 
tanooga  Railroad,  at  Tullahoma. 

But  we  cannot  stop  to  notice  all  the  efforts  of 
the  enemy  to  interrupt  the  communications,  of 
Sherman.  These,  undoubtedly,  were  the  forerun 
ners  of  Hood's  great  movement  North.  The  Rich 
mond  papers  threw  out  dark  mysterious  hints  of 
some  grand  event  that  was  about  to  be  enacted 
that  would  compel  Sherman  to  evacuate  Atlanta 
and  retreat  back  to  Chattanooga,  or  else  his  army 
would  be  annihilated.  So  confident  were  the 
enemy  of  the  success  of  their  new  scheme  that 
their  President,  Jeff.  Davis,  in  a  public  speech 
made  at  Macon,  Georgia,  on  Sabbath,  Septem- 
.ber  25th,  announced  the  determination  of  Hood 
to  march  into  Tennessee  to  sever  the  wonder 
fully  attenuated  lines  of  communications  held  by 
Sherman. 

General  Sherman  had  anticipated  this  move 
ment,  and  made  all  necessary  arrangements  to 
carry  out  his  plans,  the  grandest  movement  of  the 
war.  He  sent  detachments  under  various  com 
manders  at  different  points  along  the  Railroad 


288 

between  Atlanta  and  Chattanooga,  and  all  his 
spare  forces  to  General  Thomas. 

About  the  time  that  Davis  made  his  famous 
speech  at  Macon,  General  Hood  transferred  his 
army  from  Lovejoy's  Station,  in  the  region  of 
Jonesboro'  twenty  miles  South  of  Atlanta,  on  the 
Macon  Railroad  to  the  West  Point  Railroad,  near 
Newman.  On  the  29th  and  30th  of  September  the 
enem}7  crossed  the  Chattahoochee,  threw  himself 
on  the  Railroad  running  from  Chattanooga  to  At 
lanta,  occupied  Dallas  and  threatened  Rome  and 
Kingston.  On  the  5th  of  October,  Hood  struck  at 
the  important  post  of  Altoona.  His  General,  S. 
G.  French,  in  command  of  the  advance  division  of 
Stewart's  corps  made  the  assault  and  was  hand 
somely  repulsed  by  our  forces  under  the  command 
of  the  gallant  General  Corse,  a  most  skillful  and 
intrepid  officer. 

In  the  meantime,  Sherman  had  left  Atlanta  in 
possession  of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  General  Slocum 
commanding,  impregnably  fortified  and  with  abun 
dant  supplies ;  and  with  two  corps  he  moved  North 
after  Hood.  He  followed  him  closely  like  a  pursu 
ing  foe.  When  Hood's  general  was  assaulting 
Altooua,  General  Sherman  was  at  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  from  the  summit  of  which  he  signalled 
to  General  Corse  at  Altoona,  over  the  heads  of 
Hood's  troops,  to  hold  out  until  he  relieved  him. 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  289 

He  pressed  Hood's  rear  so  heavily  that  he  was  com 
pelled  to  abandon  the  attack  and  move  northward 
on  the  parallel  roads  east  of  the  railroad. 

In  reference  to  this  affair,  Generals  Sherman  and 
Howard  issued  the  following  orders  : 

GENERAL  CORSE'S  DEFENCE  OF  ALTOONA  PASS. 
MAJOR  GENERAL  SHERMAN'S  ORDER. 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  \ 
IN  THE  FIELD,  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN,  Oct.  7,  1804.      j 

SPECIAL  FIELD  ORDERS,  No.  86. 

The  General  Commanding,  avails  himself  of  the  opportunity,  in 
the  handsome  defence  made  of  "Altoona,"  to  illustrate  the 
most  important  principle  in  war,  that  fortified  posts  should  be  de- 
feuded  to  the  last,  regardless  of  the  relative  numbers  of  the  party 
attacking  and  attacked. 

Altoona  was  garrisoned  by  three  regiments,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Tourtelotte,  and  reenforced  by  a  detachment  from  a  divi 
sion  at  Rome,  under  command  of  Brigadier-General  J.  M.  Corse, 
on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  and  a  few  hours  after  was  attacked  by 
French's  division,  of  Stewart's  corps,  two  other  divisions  being 
near  at  hand  and  in  support.  General  French  demanded  a  sur 
render,  in  a  letter,  to  "avoid  a  useless  effusion  of  blood,"  and 
gave  but  five  minutes  for  answer.  General  Corse's  answer  was 
emphatic  and  strong  that  he  and  his  command  were  ready  for  the 
"  useless  effusion  of  blood  "  as  soon  as  it  was  agreeable  to  Gene 
ral  French. 

This  was  followed  by  an  attack  which  was  prolonged  for  five 
hours,  resulting  in  the  complete  repulse  of  the  enemy,  who  left 
his  dead  on  the  ground,  amounting  to  more  than  two  hundred, 
and  four  hundred  prisoners,  well  and  wounded.  The  "  effusion 
of  blood"  was  not  "useless,"  as  the  position  at  Altoona  was 
and  is  very  important  to  our  present  and  future  operations. 
Y 


290  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

The  thanks  of  this  army  are  due,  and  are  hereby  accorded  to 
General  Corse,  Colonel  Tourtelotte,  officers  and  men,  for  their 
determined  and  gallant  defence  of  Altoona,  and  it  is  made  an 
example  to  illustrate  the  importance  of  preparing  in  time,  and 
meeting  the  danger,  when  present,  boldly,  manfully  and  well. 

This  army,  though  unseen  to  the  garrison,  was  cooperating  by 
moving  toward  the  road  by  which  the  enemy  could  alone  escape, 
but  unfortunately  were  delayed  by  the  rain  and  mud ;  but  this 
fact  hastened  the  retreat  of  the  enemy. 

Commanders  and  garrisons  of  the  posts  along  our  railroads  are 
hereby  instructed  that  they  must  hold  their  posts  to  the  last 
minute,  sure  that  the  time  gained  is  valuable  and  necessary  to 
their  comrades  at  the  front. 

By  order  of  Major-General  SHERMAN: 

L.  M.  DAYTON,  A.  D.  0. 
L.  H.  EVERTS,  Captain  and  A.  A..G. 

M  JACK-GENERAL  HOWARD'S  ORDER. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  AND  ARMY  TENNESSEE,  \ 
NEAR  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN,  October  9.      J 

GENERAL  FIELD  ORDERS,  No.  13. 

While  uniting  in  the  high  commendation  awarded  by  the  Gen 
eral-in-Chief,  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  would  tender  through 
me  its  most  hearty  appreciation  and  thanks  to  Brigadier-General 
J.  M.  Corse  for  his  promptitude,  energy  and  eminent  success  in 
the  defence  of  Altoona  Pass,  against  a  force  so  largely  superior 
to  his  own ;  and  our  warmest  congratulations  are  extended  to 
him,  to  Colonel  Tourtelotte,  and  the  rest  of  our  comrades  in  arms 
who  fought  at  Altoona,  for  the  glorious  manner  in  which  they 
vetoed  "  the  useless  effusion  of  blood." 

0.  0.  HOWARD,  Major- General. 
Official 

M.  R.  FLINT,  A.  D.  C. 


AND   HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  291 

Oa  the  12tli  of  October,  Hood,  with  one  corps  of 
his  army,  invested  Dalton,  and  the  two  other  corps 
were  engaged  in  tearing  up  the  railroad  obstruct 
ing  Snake  Creek  Gap,  in  order  to  delay  Sherman, 
who  was  rapidly  pursuing.  Threatening  Chatta 
nooga  for  a  moment,  Hood  suddenly  broke  away 
and  marched  westerly  to  Lafayette,  and  southwest 
erly  to  Gadsden.  Thus  in  the  campaign  of  a 
month's  duration  Hood  had  succeeded  in  severing 
the  railroad  between  Chattanooga  and  Atlanta. 
At  the  end  of  the  month,  however,  Sherman's 
forces,  by  great  industry  and  skill,  reopened  the 
road. 

Anticipating  Hood's  movement  to  cross  the  Ten 
nessee,  troops  were  placed  at  Bridgeport  and  other 
points  along  the  river.  With  the  remainder  of  the 
army,  Sherman  moved  to  Galesville  in  pursuit  of 
the  enemy,  at  which  place  he  remained  for  several 
days.  This  place,  it  will  be  remembered,  is  in 
Northern  Alabama,  near  the  Georgia  line.  Hood 
remained  for  more  than  a  week  at  Gadsden,  where 
he  threw  up  fortifications.  While  in  this  position, 
it  is  said,  upon  pretty  good  authority,  that  Hood's 
army  had  a  "happy  time."  Beauregard  had  brought 
reinforcements  to  Hood.  Whereupon  the  chief 
officers,  Generals  Hood,  Beauregard,  S.  D.  Lee, 
Cheatham,  Clayton,  Cleburn  and  Bate  made 


292  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEKMAN. 

speeches  promising  to  "wipe  Sherman  out  from  the 
list  of  Yankee  officers." 

On  the  23d  of  October  Hood  began  to  move  his 
forces  northwesterly  through  Lookout  Mountain 
towards  Gunter's  Landing  and  Decatur,  on  the 
Tennessee  River.  In  the  meantime,  the  army  of 
Genera]  Dick  Taylor  had  quickly  moved  up  the 
Mobile  and  Ohio  Eailroad  from  Eastern  Louisiana 
to  Corinth,  and  thence  to  Tuscumbia. 

About  the  1st  of  November  portions  of  Hood's 
army  crossed  the  river  at  Muscle  Shoals,  between 
Florence  and  Decatur,  and  at  other  points  along 
the  river.  His  forces  were  attacked  at  various 
points.  The  Union  gunboats  took  part  in  these 
engagements,  and  in  some  instances  succeeded  in 
repulsing  the  enemy,  and  for  the  time  defeated 
their  efforts  to  cross  the  river.  The  gunboats  Un 
dine  and  transports  Venus  and  Cheseman  were 
captured  at  Fort  Herman,  on  the  river,  after  a  hard 
fight  with  the  enemy's  shore  batteries.  Most  of 
the  crew  were  killed  or  wounded.  At  Johnsonville, 
eight  steamboats,  loaded  with  government  stores, 
were  burned  by  the  Union  forces,  to  prevent  them 
from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The 
place  was  evacuated,  and  soon  occupied  by  Forrest, 
who  captured  two  of  our  gunboats  that  were  left  to 
defend  the  town. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  293 

Here  Sherman  and  Hood  parted,  and  forever. 
The  enemy  and  the  people  of  the  entire  country 
seemed  to  be  unable  to  comprehend  Sherman's 
movements,  and  were  greatly  perplexed.  Sherman 
said  of  Hood:  "Let  him  go  North;  our  business  is 
down  South.  If  he  will  cross  the  river  and  march  North, 
I  will  give  him  his  rations." 

General  Thomas  was  appointed  to  the  command 
of  all  the  troops  in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  and 
had  a  force  large  enough  to  meet  the  enemy  and 
manage  him. 

About  the  time  that  Hood  was  crossing  the  Ten 
nessee,  Sherman  sent  the  following  characteristic 
telegram : 

"  Hood  has  crossed  the  Tennessee.  Thomas  will 
take  care  of  him  and  Nashville,  while  Schofield 
will  not  let  him  into  Chattanooga  or  Knoxville. 
Georgia  and  South  Carolina  are  at  my  mercy,  and 
I  shall  strike.  Do  not  be  anxious  about  me.  I  am 
all  right." 

While  Sherman  was  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of 
Hood  north,  the  enemy  that  were  south  of  Atlanta, 
supposing  that  place  abandoned,  started  with  a 
grand  nourish  of  trumpets  to  recapture  what  they 
had  lost.  They  approached  at  two  points,  and  after 
an  engagement,  which  lasted  about  thirty  minutes, 
they  were  disappointed  and  chagrined,  and  com 
pelled  to  march  back  in  greater  haste  than  they 


294  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

advanced,  leaving  on  the  field  upwards  of  twenty 
of  their  number  killed  and  wounded. 

Hood  continued  his  march  north  until  he  reached 
Franklin,  within  about  twenty  miles  of  Nashville, 
where  his  columns  were  terribly  shattered  by  the 
troops  of  General  Schofield  in  the  battle  at  that 
place.  From  thence  he  marched  to  and  invested 
Nashville,  from  which  position  he  was  subsequently 
driven  by  the  forces  of  that  noble  old  soldier,  Gen 
eral  Thomas,  after  losing  a  large  part  of  his  army 
and  most  of  his  artillery.  Thus  ended  the  inglorious 
campaign  of  Hood  to  Sherman's  rear. 

"We  shall  next  see  Sherman  on  his  grand  march 
from  Atlanta  to  Savannah. 

A   FACETIOUS    LETTER   FROM    SHERMAN. 

"When  Sherman  was  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  last  fall,  a 
Southern  clergyman  sent  to  him  a  complaint  that 
his  horse  had  been  carried  off  by  a  United  States 
soldier.  The  general  sent  back  this  humorous 
reply: 

DEAR  SIB. — Your  letter  of  September  14th  is  received.  I  ap 
proach  a  question  involving  a  title  to  a  "horse"  with  deference 
for  the  laws  of  war.  That  mysterious  code,  of  which  we  talk  so 
much  and  know  so  little,  is  remarkably  silent  on  the  "horse." 
He  is  a  beast  so  tempting  to  the  soldier,  to  him  of  the  wild  cav 
alry,  the  fancy  artillery,  or  the  patient  infantry,  that  I  find  more 
difficulty  in  recovering  a  worthless,  spavined  beast,  than  in  pay 
ing  a  million  of  "  greenbacks  ;"  so  that  I  fear  I  must  reduce  your 
claim  to  one  of  finance,  and  refer  you  to  the  great  Board  of 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  295 

Claims  in  Washington,  that  may  reach  your  case  by  the  time  your 
grand-child  becomes  a  great-grand-father. 

Privately,  I  think  it  was  a  shabby  thing  in  the  scamp  of  the 
Thirty-first  Missouri,  who  took  your  horse ;  and  the  colonel  or 
his  brigadier  should  have  restored  him.  But  I  cannot  undertake 
to  make  good  the  sins  of  omission  of  my  own  colonels  or  briga 
diers,  much  less  those  of  a  former  generation.  "When  this  cruel 
war  is  over,"  and  peace  once  more  gives  you  a  parish,  I  will  pro 
mise,  if  near  you,  to  procure  out  of  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  corrals  a 
beast  that  will  replace  the  one  taken  from  you  wrongfully,  but 
now  it  is  impossible.  We  have  a  big  journey  before  us,  and  need 
all  we  have,  and,  I  fear,  more  too ;  so  look  out  when  the  Yanks 
are  about,  and  hide  your  beasts,  for  my  experience  is  that  all 
soldiers  are  very  careless  in  a  search  for  title.  I  know  that 
General  Hardee  will  confirm  this,  my  advice. 
With  great  respect,  yours  truly, 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major  General. 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 

SHERMAN'S   GRAND   MARCH   FROM  ATLANTA  TO 
SAVANNAH. 

MOVEMENT  TOWARDS    ATLANTA  —  PREPARATIONS  FOR 

THE  MARCH THE  ARMY ORDERS  OF  SHERMAN  AND 

SLOCUM  —  CONCENTRATION  OF  FORCES —  THE  "GATE  CITY 
BURNED"  —  COMMUNICATION  CUTOFF  — UNDER  A  CLOUD 
—THE  ENEMY  DECEIVED THE  REBEL  PRESS THE  GEN 
ERAL  LINES  OF  THE  MARCH PROGRESS  OF  THE  ARMY 

FIGHT  AT  GRISWOLDVILLE ENCAMPED  ON  HOWELL 

COBB'S  FARM MILLEDGEVILLE  OCCUPIED INCIDENT 

MARCH  TO  MILLEN  AND  SAVANNAH SCOUTS  SENT 

OUT  —  HOWARD'S  DISPATCH  TO  THE  NAVY  —  FORT  MC  AL- 
ISTER  CAPTURED JOURNAL  OF  THE  MARCH INVEST 
MENT  AND  CAPTURE  OF  SAVANNAH POETRY SHER- 

MAN'S  ORDERS  —  CORRESPONDENCE BRITISH  CONSUL 

AT  SAVANNAH. 

In  the  last  chapter  we  left  Hood  on  the  banks  of 
the  Tennessee,  preparing  for  the  invasion  and  con 
quest  of  the  middle  portions  of  that  State,  while 
Sherman,  to  the  astonishment  of  the  enemy  and 
the  whole  country,  was  marching  back  towards 
Atlanta. 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS;  297 

Sherman  announced  his  plans,  in  part,  to  his 
friend  Captain  Pennock  of  the  United  States  Navy, 
in  the  following  letter : 

KINGSTON,  GA.,  Nov.  3d,  1864. 
Capt.  PENNOCK,  II.  S.  N.,  Mound  City: 

In  a  few  days  I  will  be  off  for  salt  water,  and 
hope  to  meet  my  old  friend  D.  D.  Porter  again. 
Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  write  and  tell  him  to 
look  out  for  me  about  Christmas,  from  Hilton  Head 
to  Savannah  ? 

W.  T.  SHEKMAN,  Major-General. 

At  the  time  this  letter  was  written  Sherman  was 
making  every  preparation  for  his  great  triumphal , 
march   through  Georgia.     All  valuable   property 
was  removed  to  Chattanooga.     The  bridge  across 
the  Chattahoochee  was   burned,  the  railroad  was 
torn  up  for  miles  and  the  rails  heated  and  twisted  / 
so  as  to  be  unfit  for  future  use,  and  large  quantities  / 
of  them  were  sent  to  Chattanooga. 

Sherman  issued  the  order  for  his  march  at 
Kingston,  Ga.,  Nov.  9th,  1864,  from  which  we  learn 
that  the  army  was  to  be  divided  into  two  wings ; 
the  right  commanded  by  Major-General  0.  O. 
Howard ;  the  left  by  Major-General  H.  "W.  Slocum. 
The  right  wing  was  composed  of  the  Fifteenth  and 
Seventeenth  Corps ;  the  left  of  the  Fourteenth  and 
Twentieth  Corps.  In  addition  to  these  forces  there 
was,  also,  a  large  body  of  cavalry,  commanded  by 


298  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 


Jlilpatrick,  and  a  brigade  of  artillery  for 
each  corps,  and  one  battery  of  horse  artillery  for 
the  cavalry.  The  Fourteenth  Corps  was  com 
manded  by  Brevet  Major-General  Jeff.  C.  Davis  ; 
the  Fifteenth  by  Brevet  Major-General  Osterhaus; 
the  Seventeenth  by  Major-General  Blair,  and  the 
Twentieth  by  Major-General  Slocum. 

The  whole  army,  estimated  by  the  enemy  at 
thirty-five  thousand  actually  numbered  nearly  sixty 
thousand  well  equipped  soldiers,  accustomed  to 
long  marches,  fierce  battles  and  glorious  victories. 
They  marched  without  tents  or  a  general  train  of 
supplies.  They  were  ordered  to  supply  themselves 
from  the  country  through  which  they  marched. 
The  frequent  orders  and  exhortations  of  the  rebel 
authorities  compelling  the  Southern  people  to  cease 
the  culture  of  cotton,  their  late  king,  and  raise 
breadstuffs,  was  an  assurance  to  Sherman  and  his 
soldiers  that  they  would  find  bread  on  the  route. 

We  here  subjoin  the  order  of  Generals  Sherman 
and  Slocum,  documents  well  worth  reading  and 
preserving.  They  shed  light  on  all  of  this  grand 
movement  : 

SHERMAN'S  ORDERS  FOR  HIS  MARCH. 

HEADQUARTERS,  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  \ 
IN  THE  FIELD,  KINGSTON,  GA.,  Nov.  9,  1864.      / 

SPECIAL  FIELD  ORDERS,  No.  120. 

1.  For  the  purpose  of  military  operations  this  army  is  divided 
into  two  wings,  viz  :  The  right  wing,  Major-General  0.  0.  Howard 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS. 

commanding,  the  Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth  Corps  ;  the  left  wing, 
Major-General  H.  W.  Slocum  commanding,  the  Fourteenth  and 
Twentieth  Corps. 

2.  The  habitual  order  of  march  will  be,  whenever  practicable, 
by  four  roads,  as  nearly  parallel  as  possible,  and  converging  at 
points  hereafter  to  be  indicated  in  orders.     The  cavalry,  Brig- 
adier-General  Kilpatrick  commanding,  will  receive  special  orders 
from  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

3.  There  will  be  no  general  trains  of  supplies,  but  each  corps 
will  have  its  ammunition  and  provision   train,  distributed  ha 
bitually  as  follows  :     Behind   each  regiment  should  follow  one 
wagon  and  one  ambulance  ;  behind  each  brigade  should  follow  a 
iue  proportion  of  ammunition  wagons,  provision  wagons  and  am 
bulances.     In  case  of  danger,   each   army  corps  should  change 
this  order  of  march  by  having  his  advance  and  rear  brigade  un- 
incumbered  by  wheels.     The    separate   columns   will   start  ha 
bitually  at  seven  A.  M.,  and  make  about  fifteen  miles  per  day, 
unless  otherwise  fixed  in  orders. 

4.  The  army  will  forage  liberally  on  the  country  during  the 
march.     To  this  end,  each  brigade  commander  will  organize  a 
good  and  sufficient  foraging  party,  under  the  command  of  one  or 
more  discreet  officers  who  will  gather,  near  the  route  traveled, 
corn  or  forage  of  any  kind,   meat  of  any  kind,  vegetables,  corn 
meal,  or  whatever  is  needed  by  the  command  ;  aiming  at  all  times 
to  keep  in  the  wagon  trains  at  least  ten  days'  provisions  for  the 
command,  and  three  days'  forage.     Soldiers  must  not  enter  the 
dwellings  of  the  inhabitants  or  commit  any  trespass ;  during  the 
halt  or  a  camp  they  may  be  permitted  to  gather  turnips,  potatoes 
and  other  vegetables,  and  drive  in  stock  in  front  of  their  camps. 
To  regular  foraging  parties  must  be  entrusted  the  gathering  of 
provisions  and  forage  at  any  distance  from  the  road  traveled. 

5.  To  army  corps  commanders  is  entrusted  the  power  to  des 
troy  mills,  houses,   cotton  gins,  &c.,  and  for  them  this  general 


300  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

principle  Is  laid  down:  In  districts  and  neighborhoods  where 
the  «,rmy  is  unmolested,  no  destruction  of  such  property  should 
fee  permitted  ;  but  should  guerrillas  or  bushwhackers  molest  our 
march,  or  should  the  inhabitants  burn  bridges,  obstruct  roads,  or 
otherwise  manifest  local  hostility,  then  army  corps  commanders 
should  order  and  enforce  a  devastation  more  or  less  relentless, 
according  to  the  measure  of  such  hostility. 

6.  As  for   horses,    mules,    wagons,    &c.,    belonging  to  the  in 
habitants,   the  cavalry  and  artillery  may  appropriate  freely  and 
without  limit ;   discriminating,   however,  between  the  rich,  who 
are  usually  hostile,  and  the  poor  or  industrious,  usually  neutral 
or  friendly.     Foraging  parties  may  also  take  mules  or  horses  to 
replace  the  jaded  animals   of  their  trains,  or  to   serve   as  pack 
mules  for  the  regiments  or  brigades.     In  all  foraging,  of  what 
ever  kind,  the  parties   engaged   will  refrain  from  abusive  and 
threatening  language,  and  may,  when  the  officer  in  command  thinks 
proper,  give  written   certificates  of  the  facts,  but  not  receipts  ; 
and  they  will  endeavor  to  leave  with  each  family  a  reasonable 
portion  for  their  maintenance. 

7.  Negroes  who  are  able-bodied   and  can  be  of  service  to  the 
several  columns,  may  be  taken  along ;  but  each  army  commander 
will  bear  in  mind  that  the  question  of  supplies  is  a  very  important 
one,  and  that  his  first  duty  is  to  see  to  those  who  bear  arms. 

8.  The  organization  at  once  of   a  good  pioneer   battalion  for 
each  corps,  composed,  if  possible  of  negroes,  should  be  attended 
to.       This   battalion   should   follow    the  advance    guard,   should 
repair  roads  and  double  them  if  possible,  so  that  the  columns  will 
not   be   delayed   after   reaching   bad   places.     Also,    army  com 
manders    should    study   the   habit    of  giving   the   artillery   and 
wagons  the  road,  and  marching  their  troops  on  one  side  ;  and 
also,  instruct  the  troops  to  assist  wagons  at  steep  hills  or  bad 
crossings  of  streams. 

9.  Captain  0.  M.  Poe,  Chief  Engineer,  will  assign  to  each  wing 
of  the  army  a  pontoon  train,  fully  equipped  and  organized,  and 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  301 

the  commanders  thereof  will  see  to  its  being  properly  protected 
at  all  times. 

By  order  of  Major-General  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 

L.  M.  DAYTON,  Aid-de-Camp. 

GENERAL  SLOCUM'S  ORDER  TO  HIS  WING  OF  THE  ARMY. 

HEADQUARTERS  TWENTIETH  CORPS,  1 
ATLANTA,  GA.,  Nov.  7,  1864.      / 

CIRCULAR. 

When  the  troops  leave  camp  on  the  march  about  to  commence, 
they  will  carry,  in  haversack,  two  days'  rations  salt  meat,  two 
days'  hard  bread,  ten  days'  coffee  and  salt,  and  five  days'  sugar. 
Each  infantry  soldier  will  carry  sixty  rounds  of  ammunition  on 
his  person.  Every  effort  should  be  made,  by  officers  and  men,  to 
save  rations  and  ammunition ;  not  a  round  of  ammunition  should 
be  lost  or  unnecessarily  expended.  It  is  expected  that  the  com 
mand  will  be  supplied  with  subsistence  and  forage  mainly  from 
the  country.  All  foraging  will  be  done  by  parties  detailed  for  the 
purpose  by  brigade  commanders,  under  such  rules  as  may  be  pre 
scribed  by  brigade  and  division  commanders.  Pillaging,  marauding 
and  every  act  of  cruelty  or  abuse  of  citizens  will  be  severely  pun 
ished.  Each  brigade  commander  will  have  a  strong  rear  guard 
on  every  march,  and  will  order  the  arrest  of  all  stragglers.  The 
danger  of  straggling  on  this  march  should  be  impressed  upon  the 
mind  of  every  officer  and  man  of  the  command.  Not  only  the 
reputation  of  the  corps,  but  the  personal  safety  of  every  man  will 
be  dependent,  in  a  great  measure,  upon  the  rigid  enforcement  of 
discipline  and  the  care  taken  of  the  rations  and  ammunition. 

By  command  of  Major-General  SLOCUM. 

H.  W.  PERKINS,  A.  A.  G. 

The  troops  were  all  concentrated  in  and  near  At-  V 
lanta.     The  city  was  set  on  fire  in  order  to  destroy  / 
everything  that  might  be  of  use  to  the  enemy. 
z 


302  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

An  eye  witness  of  the  burning  of  Atlanta  on  the 
/day  and  night  of  the  15th  of  November,  thus  des- 

X  cribes  that  scene  : 

"  Atlanta  is  entirely  deserted  of  human  beings, 
excepting  a  few  soldiers  here  and  there.  The 
houses  are  vacant ;  there  is  no  trade  or  traffic  of 
any  kind ;  the  streets  are  empty.  Beautiful  roses 
bloom  in  the  gardens  of  fine  houses,  but  a  terrible 
stillness  and  solitude  cover  it  all,  depressing  the 
hearts  even  of  those  who  are  glad  to  destroy  it. 
In  your  peaceful  homes  at  the  North  you  cannot 
conceive  how  these  people  have  suffered  for  their 
crimes. 

"  A  grand  and  awful  spectacle  is  presented  to  the 
beholder  in  this  beautiful  city,  now  in  flames.  By 
order,  the  chief  engineer  had  destroyed,  by 
powder  and  fire  all  the  storehouses,  depot  buildings 
and  machine  shops.  The  heaven  is  one  expanse  of 
lurid  fire ;  the  air  is  filled  with  flying,  burning  cin 
ders  ;  buildings  covering  over  two  hundred  acres 
are  in  ruins  or  in  flames ;  every  instant  there  is  the 
sharp  detonation  or  the  smothered  burning  sound 
of  exploding  shells  and  powder  concealed  in  the 
buildings,  and  then  the  sparks  and  flame  shoot 
away  up  into  the  black  and  red  roof,  scattering  the 
cinders  far  and  wide. 
/  "  These  are  the  machine  shops  where  have  been 

/  forged  and  cast  rebel  cannon,  shot  and  shell,  that 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  303 

have  carried  death  to  many  a  brave  defender  of  our 
nation's  honor.  These  warehouses  have  been  the 
receptacle  of  munitions  of  war,  stored,  to  be  used 
for  our  destruction.  The  city,  which  next  to  Rich 
mond,  has  furnished  more  material  for  prosecuting 
the  war  than  any  other  in  the  South,  exists  no  more 
as  a  means  for  the  enemies  of  the  Union. 

"  A  brigade  of  Massachusetts  soldiers  are  the  only 
troops  now  left  in  the  town.  They  will  be  the  last 
to  leave  it.  To-night  I  heard  the  really  fine  band 
of  the  Thirty-third  Massachusetts  playing  'John 
Brown's  soul  goes  marching  on,'  by  the  light  of 
the  burning  buildings.  I  have  never  heard  that 
noble  anthem  when  it  was  so  grand,  so  solemn,  so 
inspiring." 

On  the  14th  and  15th,  the  march  began  in  earnest. 
As  Cortez  burned  his  ships  behind  him,  and  thus 
cut  off  all  possibility  of  a  retreat,  so  Sherman  broke 
up  his  communications ;  cut  loose  from  all  support 
and  marched,  relying  upon  his  noble  soldiery 
and  his  own  genius  for  a  successful  issue  of  the 
campaign. 

For  days  and  weeks  he  was  not  heard  from 
except  through  the  enemy's  channels.  The  gen 
eral,  his  brave  army  and  their  movements  were 
covered  with  a  dark  cloud  from  the  view  of  their 
friends.  No  one  seemed  to  know  where  they  were 


304  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

or  whither  they  were  inarching,  or  what  had  be 
fallen  them.  All  over  the  North,  men  daily  and 
almost  hourly  inquired,  where  is  Sherman  ?  His 
bold  movement,  imperfectly  comprehended,  was 
regarded  as  full  of  peril  and  hazardous  in  the  ex 
treme.  Nevertheless  not  a  few  believed  most  con 
fidently,  that  he  would  make  a  successful  march 
either  to  the  Gulf  or  to  the  Atlantic  coast.  Gen 
eral  Grant  had  said,  "  I  expect  more  of  Sherman 
than  of  any  other  man  in  the  country." 

This  movement  was  as  incomprehensible  to  the 
enemy  as  to  us,  and  far  more  perplexing  to  them. 
They  regarded  it  as  a  retreat,  and  not  as  the  de 
liberate  plan  of  a  great  military  genius.  Their 
views,  as  expressed  by  their  public  presses,  are  cu 
rious,  and  should  be  preserved,  as  a  record  of  the 
times,  and  the  manner  in  which  they  were  either 
deceived  or  undertook  to  deceive  the  public  in 
regard  to  Sherman's  movements. 

We  here  insert  a  few  extracts  from  the  enemy's 
press,  as  a  monument  of  Sherman's  great  achieve 
ment,  and  their  amazing  folly. 

EXTRACTS   FROM    THE    REBEL    PRESS. 
[From  the  Augusta  Constitutionalist,  November  20th.] 

We  must  retard,  harass,  starve,  destroy  the  army 
of  Sherman.  The  opportunity  is  ours.  The  hand 
of  God  is  in  it.  The  blow,  if  we  can  give  it  as  it 
should  be  given,  may  end  the  war.  We  urge  our 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  305 

friends  in  the  track  of  the  advance  to  remove  all 
forage  and  provisions,  horses,  mules,  negroes  and 
stock,  and  burn  the  balance.  Let  the  invader  find 
the  desolation  he  would  leave  behind  him  staring 
him  in  the  face.  You  must  do  it  yourself,  or  the 
'  enemy  will  do  it. 

Let  the  cry  of  Beauregard,  who  is  now  with  us, 
go  up  through  the  State — to  arms!  to  arms! 

It  is  fully  believed  that  General  Sherman,  find 
ing  his  way  North  entirely  closed,  and  a  bold  and 
defiant  army  confronting  him  has  determined  upon 
making  a  bold  retreat  to  the  rear,  where  no  army 
of  consequence  could  impede  his  movement. 

In  our  judgment  it  is  the  Anabasis  of  Sherman. 
1^  is  plain  his  only  object  can  be  the  making  of  a 
certain  and  secure  base.  He  must  move  fast  and 
obtain  his  object  speedily,  or  he  is  lost. 

His  movement  is  occasioned  by  the  fact  that  For 
rest  has  destroyed  his  stores  at  Johnsonville,  and 
cut  his  communication  on  the  north. 

Sherman  has  many  weary  miles  to  march  in  ob 
taining  his  object.  It  is  absurdity  to  talk  about  his 
making  a  winter  campaign  with  no  communication 
with  his  Government.  He  is  retreating — simply 
retreating.  He  will  destroy  as  he  goes,  but  that 
makes  it  none  the  less  so. 


306 

[From  the  Augusta  Constitutionalist,  November  22d.] 

To  our  country  friends  we  again  reiterate  the  ad 
vice — the  advice  of  our  generals  and  congressmen, 
the  advice  which  common  sense  would  give: — cut 
trees  across  all  the  roads  in  front  of  the  enemy, 
burn  the  bridges,  remove  everything  possible  in 
time,  and  before  the  enemy  arrives,  burn  and  de 
stroy  what  cannot  be  removed — leave  nothing 
upon  which  he  can  subsist;  and  hide  the  mill 
stones  and  machinery  of  all  miHs.  The  cattle  of 
the  country  should  be  driven  off,  and  the  hogs  un- 
penned  and  hastened  into  the  woods  and  swamps. 
By  such  a  course  our  own  citizens,  without  guns, 
can  conquer  the  enemy.  It  is  not  possible  for  him 
to  haul  provisions  and  forage ;  and  could  his  line 
of  march  be  retarded  by  roads  blocked  with  fallen 
trees,  and  streams  (however  small,  for  slight 
streams  retard  artillery)  made  bridgeless,  the  food 
for  horses  and  men  removed  or  destroyed,  his 
army  at  once  becomes  an  easy  conquest  to  the 
troops,  and  veterans  at  that,  which  already  begin 
to  swarm  about  the  supposed  points  in  his  line  of 
march. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  officers  in  command  to  see 
that  this  road  is  made  difficult,  and  forage  and  pro 
visions  removed  and  destroyed.  Squads  of  men 
should  be  scouring  the  country  in  front  of  his  ad 
vance,  with  orders  to  urge  the  people  first  to 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  807 

remove  forage  and  dismantle  and  secrete  millstones 
and  machinery;  and  if  they  fail  through  unwilling 
ness  to  do  it,  then  to  burn  and  destroy  what  cannot 
be  removed. 

The  Russians  destroyed  the  Grand  Army  of  Na 
poleon  of  five  hundred  thousand  men  by  destroying 
the  country  about  them  by  the  full  use  of  fire  ap 
plied  to  their  own  cities,  houses  and  granaries; 
and,  in  forcing  his  rapid  and  disastrous  retreat 
from  their  country,  gave  the  first  great  blow  to  that 
master  in  the  art  of  war  which  conquered  France, 
and  placed  the  great  leader  a  prisoner  on  the  island 
of  St.  Helena.  Let  Georgians  imitate  their  unselfish 
ness  and  love  of  country  for  a  few  weeks,  and  the 
army  of  Sherman  will  have  the  fate  of  Napoleon. 

If  Sherman  lives  and  forages  upon  the  country, 
it  will  be,  first,  the  mean  and  cowardly  selfishness 
of  the  people ;  and,  second,  the  inertness  and  in 
difference  of  Confederate  officers.  It  is  the  natural 
duty  of  the  former,  as  Georgians,  to  destroy  rather 
than  the  enemy  should  eat  it ;  the  sworn  duty  of 
the  latter,  as  true  officers  of  the  Confederacy,  to  see 
that  this  be  the  case. 

[From  the  Savannah  News,  November  22d.] 

The  present  war  has  afforded  practical  demon 
strations  of  all  the  theories  of  military  tactics  —  of 
surprises,  concentration,  celerity  of  movement, 


308 

strategic  feints,  retreats,  intrepid  onsets  and  pro 
tracted  sieges — and  to-day  we  are  witnessing  a  re- 
enactment  of  that  great  military  disaster,  the  forced 
retreat  of  a  victorious  army  through  a  hostile  coun 
try.  As  Napoleon  was  forced  to  retreat  from  his 
conquest  of  Moscow,  so  is  his  feeble  and  heartless 
imitator,  Sherman,  forced  to  return  from  Atlanta, 
the  capture  of  which  cost  him  the  loss  of  a  larger 
army  than  that  which  he  now  commands.  The 
great  aim  of  the  abolition  despotism  at  Washing 
ton  in  the  commencement  of  the  spring  campaign 
was  the  capture  of  Richmond  and  Atlanta.  The 
conquest  of  one  or  both  of  these  great  Confederate 
centres  was  deemed  essential  to  the  maintenance  of 
Black  Republican  ascendancy,  and  hence  the  main 
efforts  of  the  Lincoln  Government  were  directed 
to  the  accomplishment  of  those  objects.  More  than 
a  hundred  thousand  lives  were  vainly  sacrificed  in 
the  attempt  to  reach  Richmond,  and  to-day  Lee's 
heroic  veterans  hold  the  remnant  of  Grant's  army 
cowering  before  their  impregnable  lines.  Sher 
man,  after  months  of  hard  fighting,  and  after  the 
sacrifice  of  nearly  a  hundred  thousand  troops,  suc 
ceeded  against  a  vastly  inferior  force  in  obtaining 
possession  of  our  great  railroad  centre.  But  he 
found  it  a  barren  victory.  The  ruin  which  he  had 
wrought  was  no  compensation  for  the  sacrifice  he 
had  made — the  tenantless  houses,  the  devastated 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  309 

fields  and  acres  of  burial  grounds  with  which  he 
had  surrounded  himself,  offered  no  subsistence  for 
the  remnant  of  his  army.  He  found,  too  late,  that 
conquest  was  not  victory,  and  that  the  army  whom 
he  had  vainly  endeavored  to  subdue,  still  uncon- 
quered  and  defiant,  had  not  only  escaped  his  grasp, 
but  had  assumed  a  position  which  threatened  his 
destruction.  Cut  off  from  his  base  of  supplies,  the 
country  in  the  track  of  his  advance  being  exhaust 
ed,  surrounded  on  every  side  by  a  hostile  people, 
starvation  staring  him  in  the  face,  he  was  forced  to 
look  for  a  retreat  from  his  perilous  position.  His 
movement  towards  Chattanooga,  as  well  as  the  ap 
pearance  of  a  large  fleet  of  supply  ships  off  Mobile 
a  few  days  since,  leave  no  doubt  that  he  designed 
to  seek  a  water  base  and  the  cover  of  gunboats  at 
Mobile ;  but  the  active  operations  of  Forrest,  and 
the  concentration  of  forces  under  Hood  in  lower 
Alabama,  rendered  such  a  retreat  impossible. 
Every  other  avenue  of  escape  being  closed,  his  last 
and  only  desperate  hope  is  to  make  his  way  through 
the  interior  of  the  State  to  the-  Atlantic  coast 
While  his  main  body  will  be  compelled  to  advance 
slowly  through  that  section  of  the  State  where  he 
hopes  to  find  subsistence,  his  light  troops  and  cav 
alry  will  occupy  a  wide  breadth  of  country,  threat 
ening  our  principal  towns,  and  by  feints  in  all  direc 
tions,  for  a  time,  perhaps,  succeed  in  deceiving  us 


310  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

in  regard  to  his  real  point  of  destination,  and  thus 
prevent  a  concentration  of  our  forces. 

A  few  days,  however,  will  develop  his  designs, 
when,  if  our  united  efforts  are  properly  directed, 
lie  will  reap  the  reward  of  his  reckless  temerity 
in  utter  annihilation.  We  have  only  to  arouse 
our  whole  arms-bearing  people — hover  on  his 
front,  his  flanks  and  rear — remove  from  his  reach 
or  destroy  everything  that  will  subsist  man  or 
beast — retard  his  progress  by  every  means  in  our 
power,  and,  when  the  proper  time  comes,  fall  upon 
him  with  the  relentless  vengeance  of  an  insulted 
and  outraged  people,  and  there  need  be  no  doubt 
of  the  result.  As  the  great  Napoleon  found  his 
Moscow,  so  will  the  brutal  Sherman  find  his 
Atlanta. 

[From  the  Savannah  News,  November  22d.] 

Now  is  the  time  for  the  men  of  Georgia  to  rally 
to  her  defense,  in  response  to  the  call  of  the  Gover 
nor.  He  has  done  his  duty — the  men  of  the  State 
must  now  perform  theirs.  If  they  do,  our  State 
will  be  delivered  from  impending  ruin.  Be  prompt 
to  the  rescue. 

The  patriots — the  genuine  lovers  of  their  own 
soil — of  their  wives,  children  and  neighbors,  and 
of  liberty,  will  not  hesitate  to  rush  to  arms.  Let 
all  who  are  able  to  do  any  good  at  the  front,  and 
who  try  to  dodge  or  shirk  their  duty  in  this  solemn 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  311 

and  important  hour,  be  marked.  The  man  who 
now  refuses  to  defend  us  is  unworthy  of  property, 
liberty  or  country. 

"  He  who  dallies  is  a  dastard, 
And  he  who  doubts  is  damned." 

[From  the  Kegister,  November  22d.] 

General  Fry  issues '  an  order  this  morning,  call 
ing  on  all  the  men  in  Augusta  to  prepare  imme 
diately  for  the  defense  of  their  homes,  by  uniting 
themselves  with  some  local  organization.  We  have 
no  need  to  say  a  word  of  the  importance  of  this 
call.  It  can  no  longer  be  doubted  that  an  insolent 
foe  is  in  the  very  heart  of  our  beloved  Empire 
State,  burning,  pillaging  and  desolating  the  coun 
try  he  passes  over.  Our  homes  are  threatened  with 
the  same  fate  that  has  thrust  thousands  from  their 
homes  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  State.  The 
enemy  is  coming  with  his  hell  hounds,  thirsty  for 
"hinder,  and  the  torch  is  red  in  his  hands.  He 
would  leave  our  beautiful  city  a  smouldering  heap 
of  blackened  ruins,  our  firesides  desolate,  our 
women  and  children  thrust  out  of  house  and  home, 
our  altars  "Desecrated,  and  our  whole  country  a 
barren  wasta.  G-eorgians,  can  there  be  need  of  an 
appeal  to  rouse  you  to  your  duty  in  this  trying 
hour  ?  We  think  not.  If  you  are  not  insensible 
to  all  the  principles  of  patriotism,  you  will  rally 
now —  rally  as  one  man  to  meet  the  coming  foe. 


312  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

You  will  not  have  to  stand  alone  to  oppose  the 
coming  storm.  Soldiers  are  already  arriving, — 
others  are  on  their  way  from  Virginia.  Shall  they 
come  and  find  you  inactive?  Nay;  let  every  arm 
now  grasp  its  weapon,  and  every  effort  be  made  to 
throw  obstructions  in  the  pathway  of  the  foe.  On 
you  alone  depends  your  safety.  Remain  inactive, 
and  the  consequence  may  prove  fatal;  do  your 
duty,  and  the  overthrow  of  the  enemy  is  sure. 

[From  the  Richmond  Examiner,  November  26th.] 

The  news  from  Georgia,  now  the  most  interest 
ing  of  all,  is  exceedingly  meagre  and  untrustwor 
thy;  but  no  doubt  can  now  be  entertained  of 
Sherman's  design  or  of  his  destination.  When 
Davis  sent,  and  Hood  took,  the  only  army  apparent 
in  the  country  off  his  shoulders,  and  carried  it 
through  the  mountains  to  stick  it  in  the  mud 
between  Tuscumbia  and  Florence,  Sherman  deter 
mined  to  make  an  attempt  on  the  lines  of  commu 
nication  between  Virginia,  the  Carolinas,  and  the 
rest  of  the  Confederate  •  States.  His  work  in 
Northern  Georgia  was  done,  and  for  ulterior  ope 
rations  any  point  on  the  seacoast  would  be  a  better 
base  than  Chattanooga.  He  risked  much  in  ap 
pearance,  but  perhaps  little  in  reality,  by  destroying 
his  communications.  A  marching  army  can  trans 
port  ammunition  for  at  least  three  pitched  battles, 
and  for  supplies  this  season  of  the  year  he  might 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  313 

partly  rely  on  the  country  through  which  he  pro 
posed  to  pass.  If  he  could  take  Macon  or  Augusta 
by  the  way,  he  would  accomplish  great  things;  but 
the  destruction  of  these  towns  was  not  his  main 
obj  ect.  His  design  was  to  destroy  the  railroads,  as 
far  as  he  could,  which  ran  from  Southern  and 
Western  Georgia  to  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas, 
and  to  rest  his  army  at  Beaufort  and  Port  Royal. 
That  he  would  go  to  that  point  rather  than  Sa 
vannah,  is  nearly  certain ;  for  if  he  directed  his 
course  to  Savannah  or  to  Charleston,  he  would  find 
fortified  and  well  defended  cities,  and  his  troops, 
exhausted  by  a  long  march,  both  in  strength  and 
ammunition,  would  be  wholly  unfit  to  reduce  either 
place.  But  the  enemy  already  has  possession  of 
Beaufort.  He  would  have  no  fighting  to  do  there, 
and  he  would  find  transports  laden  with  every  spe 
cies  of  supply  awaiting  his  arrival.  It  is,  therefore, 
reasonable  to  believe  that  Beaufort  is  the  point  of 
destination,  and  that  if  he  fails  at  Augusta,  he  will 
make  his  way  thither  as  fast  as  the  Confederate 
troops  will  permit  him.  If  the  reader  will  glance 
at  the  map,  he  will  perceive  that  when  Sherman 
has  passed  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  and 
thence  to  Beaufort,  he  will  have  severed  every  rail 
road  between  Georgia  and  Virginia.  This  sever 
ance  will  be  easily  repaired ;  but  if  he  can  establish 
himself  permanently. at  Beaufort,  he  maybe  able 


314 

to  operate  against  those  roads  repeatedly.  Fur 
thermore,  Beaufort  lies  between  Charleston  and 
Savannah,  and  can  be  conveniently  used  as  the 
base  of  land  operations  against  either  city.  It  is 
evidently  highly  important  that  Sherman  should 
never  take  Augusta  or  Macon,  and  should  never 
reach  Beaufort. 

[From  the  Richmond  Whig,  November  28th.] 

"We  do  not  intend  to  inform  the  Yankee  news 
papers  where  Sherman  now  is,  but  we  feel  no 
hesitation  in  assuring  them  that  he  is  not  in 
Charleston  or  Savannah,  or  either  in  Macon  or 
Augusta;  and  that  not  one  of  those  cities  has 
been  threatened  by  his  forces.  We  can  tell  them 
likewise  that  his  march  has  been  even  more 
leisurely  than  he  anticipated;  and  that,  so  far 
from  accomplishing  the  modest  fifteen  miles  a 
day,  provided  for  in  his  orders,  he  has  not  attained 
much  more,  on  an  average,  than  the  half  of  that 
rate.  It  is  now  fifteen  days  since  he  left  Atlanta. 
In  a  week  he  was  to  be  in  possession  of  Macon, 
and  in  twelve  days  of  Augusta,  and  in  a  few 
days  more  of  some  other  important  point;  but 
where  is  he  now?  We  leave  it  to  the  Yan 
kee  papers  to  guess,  supplying  them  only 
with  the  information  that  he  has  not  found 
sweet  potatoes  very  abundant  in  Georgia,  and 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  315 

that  hog  and  hominy  have  not  been  served  up 
for  the  entertainment  of  his  bedeviled  troops." 

From  Atlanta  two  railroads,  the  Georgia  and 
the  G-eorgia  Central,  run  in  a  southeasterly  direc 
tion  to  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  Georgia  Railroad 
passes  through  Augusta,  to  Charleston;  Georgia 
Central,  through  Macon  to  Savannah.  From 
Atlanta  to  Macon  the  distance  is  103  miles ;  from 
Macon  to  Savannah  190  miles.  The  distance  from 
Atlanta  to  Augusta  is  171  miles ;  from  Augusta  to 
Charleston  137  miles.  These  two  great  railroads 
were  the  general  lines  of  Sherman's  march  of 
wonderful  distances.  He  moved  out  of  Atlanta 
while  that  place  was  yet  in  flames,  in  two  columns. 
The  right  wing,  under  Howard,  marched  straight 
down  the  Macon  and  Western  Railroad,  south  of 
the  "  Gate  City,"  first  striking  East  Point,  where 
the  Atlantic  and  West  Point  Railroad  crosses  it, 
and  from  thence  to  Rough  and  Ready,  at  which 
point,  after  sharp  skirmishing  with  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  under  command  of  Iverson,  who  had 
made  several  amusing  demonstrations,  which  was 
ycleped  by  the  enemy  as  "  the  siege  of  Atlanta," 
reached  Jonesboro,  on  Wednesday,  the  16th,  and 
encamped  for  the  night.  At  this  place  the  railroad 
buildings  were  destroyed. 

At  Jonesboro  there  was  a  division  of  our  forces. 
On  the  18th  the  infantry  occupied  Griffin,  on  the 


316 

Atlantic  and  Macon  Railroad.  The  cavalry  passed 
from  McDonough,  where  they  had  burned  the 
court  house  and  other  public  buildings,  and 
reached  this  same  road  at  Forsythe,  and  thus 
destroyed  the  communications  between  Atlanta 
and  Macon.  The  enemy  fell  back  to  Macon, 
where  their  principal  forces  were  concentrating, 
supposing  that  it  was  Sherman's  intention  to  attack 
that  stronghold.  Instead,  however,  of  marching 
to  the  fortifications  of  Macon,  the  column  turned 
due  east,  following  the  general  direction  of  the 
Georgia  Central  Railroad.  The  advanced  cavalry 
occupied  Hillsboro  and  Monticello,  and  destroyed 
everything  in  both  places  that  could  be  of  value  to 
the  enemy.  The  infantry  encamped  that  night  at 
Indian  Spring,  near  the  town  of  Jackson.  This 
part  of  the  army,  the  right  wing,  spent  the  19th  in 
preparing  bridges  to  cross  the  Ocomulgee  River. 
On  the  20th  the  passage  of  the  stream  was  effected, 
and  the  army  marched  from  there  to  Gordon  on 
the  Georgia  Central  Railroad,  south  west  of  Mil- 
ledgeville,  the  capital  of  the  State.  At  this  point 
great  damage  was  done  to  the  Central  Road,  and 
the  railroad  running  from  thence  to  Milledgeville. 
From  here  General  Walcott,  in  command  of  a 
detachment  of  cavalry  and  a  brigade  of  infantry, 
was  thrown  forward  to  Griswoldville,  towards 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  317 

Macon,  in  the  rear  of  the  army,  merely  for  de 
monstrative  purposes.  The  enemy,  five  thousand 
strong,  advanced  upon  our  troops,  who  had  thrown 
up  temporary  breastworks,  with  a  section  of  a  bat 
tery  in  position.  The  cavalry  fell  slowly  back  on 
either  flank  of  the  brigade,  protecting  them  from 
attack  in  flank  and  rear.  The  enemy  consisted  of 
Hardee's  old  corps,  which  was  brought  up  from 
Savannah,  and  chiefly  State  militia.  "  "With  that 
ignorance  of  danger  common  to  new  troops," 
said  an  eye-witness,  "  the  rebels  rushed  upon  our 
veterans  with  the  greatest  fury.  They  were  re 
ceived  with  grape  shot  and  musketry  at  point 
blank  range,  our  soldiers  firing  coolly  while  shout 
ing  derisively  to  the  quivering  columns  to  come 
on,  as  if  they  thought  the  whole  thing  a  nice  joke. 
The  enemy  resumed  the  attack,  but  with  the  same 
fatal  result,  and  were  soon  in  full  flight,  leaving 
more  than  three  hundred  killed  and  wounded  on 
the  field.  Our  loss  was  some  forty  killed  and 
wounded.  A  pretty  severe  lesson." 

Meanwhile  the  left  wing  of  the  army,  Slocum's 
column,  passed  through  Decatur,  Covington  and 
Madison,  and  having  destroyed  everything  that 
could  be  of  advantage  to  the  enemy,  marched  on 
towards  Milledgeville,  the  capital.  Before  reach 
ing  the  latter  place,  it  is  said  that  Sherman  camped 
on  one  of  the  plantations  of  Howell  Cobb,  Said 


318  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

one  who  was  with,  the  army  at  the  time :  "  ~W& 
found  his  granaries  well  filled  with  corn  and  wheat, 
part  of  which  was  distributed  and  eaten  by  our 
animals  and  men.  A  large  supply  of  syrup  made 
from  sorghum,  which  we  found  at  nearly  every 
plantation  on  the  march,  was  stored  in  an  out 
house.  This  was  also  disposed  of  to  the  soldiers, 
and  the  poor  decrepit  negroes,  which  this  humane, 
liberty-loving  major  general  left  to  die  in  this  place 
a  few  days  ago.  Becoming  alarmed,  Cobb  remov 
ed  all  the  able-bodied  mules,  horses,  cows  and 
slaves.  He  left  behind  some  fifty  old  men  —  crip 
ples,  and  women  and  children — with  scarcely 
enough  clothing  to  cover  their  nakedness,  with 
little  or  no  food,  and  without  means  of  procuring 
any.  "We  found  them  cowering  over  the  fire-places 
of  their  miserable  huts,  where  the  wind  whirled 
through  the  crevices  between  the  logs,  frightened 
at  the  approach  of  the  Yankees,  who,  they  had 
been  told  would  kill  them.  A  more  forlorn, 
neglected  set  of  human  beings  I  never  saw." 

General  Sherman  distributed  provisions  among 
them,  and  assured  them  that  we  were  their  friends, 
and  riot  their  foes. 

Slocum,  with  the  Twentieth  Corps,  on  the  22d 
of  November,  entered  Milledgeville.  A  corres 
pondent  of  one  of  our  public  journals  thus  speaks 
of  this  event ; 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  319 

"  MILLEDGEVILLE,  November  24. 

"  "We  are  in  full  possession  of  the  capital  of  the 
State  of  Georgia,  and  without  firing  a  gun  in  its 
conquest,  On  Friday  last  the  Legislature,  which 
had  been  in  session,  hearing  of  our  approach, 
hastily  decamped  without  any  adjournment.  The 
legislative  panic  spread  among  the  citizens  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  depopulate  the  place,  except  of  a 
few  old  gentlemen  and  ladies  and  the  negroes,  the 
latter  welcoming  our  approach  with  ecstatic  ex 
clamations  of  joy :  i  Bress  the  Lord!  tanks  be  to 
Almighty  God;  th,>  Yanks  is  come;  de  day  ob 
jubilee  hab  arribed;  and  then  accompanied  their 
words  with  rather  embarrassing  hugs,  which  those 
nearest  the  sidewalks  received  quite  liberally. 

"  General  Slocum,  with  the  Twentieth  Corps, 
first  entered  the  city,  arriving  by  way  of  Madison, 
having  accomplished  his  mission  of  destroying  the 
railroads  and  valuable  bridges  at  Madison.  The 
fright  of  the  legislators,  described  by  witnesses, 
must  have  been  comical  in  the  extreme.  They 
little  imagined  the  movement  of  our  left  wing, 
hearing  first  of  the  advance  of  Kilpatrick  on  the 
extreme  right  toward  Macon,  and  supposed  that  to 
be  another  raid.  "What  their  opinion  was  when 
Howard's  army  appeared  at  McDonough  it  would 
be  difficult  to  say,  and  their  astonishment  must 
have  approached  insanity  when  the  other  two 


320  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

columns  were  heard  from  —  one  directed  toward 
Augusta  and  the  other  swiftly  marching  straight 
upon  their  devoted  city. 

"  It  seemed  as  if  they  were  surrounded  upon  all 
sides  except  .toward  the  east,  and  that  their  doom 
was  sealed.  With  the  certain  punishment  for  their 
crimes  looming  up  before  them,  they  sought  every 
possible  means  of  escape.  Private  effects,  house 
hold  furniture,  everything,  was  conveyei.  to  the 
depot,  and  loaded  into  cars  until  they  were  filled 
and  heaped,  and  the  flying  people  could  not  find 
standing  room. 

"  Any  and  every  price  was  obtained  for  a  vehicle. 
A  thousand  dollars  was  cheap  for  a  common  buggy, 
and  men  rushing  about  the  streets  in  agony  of  fear 
lest  they  should  <  fall  victims  to  the  ferocity  of  the 
Yankees.' 

"  Several  days  of  perfect  quiet  passed,  after  this 
exodus,  when,  on  a  bright,  sunshiny  morning,  a 
regiment  entered  the  city  with  a  band  playing  the 
national  airs,  which  music  had  many  a  day  since 
been  hushed  in  the  capital  of  Georgia. 

WHAT    SHERMAN   DID   AT    MILLEDGEVILLE. 

/       "But  few  of  the  troops  were  marched  through 

/    the  city.     Some  two  or  three  regiments  were  de- 

/     tailed  under  the  orders  of  the  engineers  to  de- 

N   «troy  certain  property  designated  by  the  general 

j  commanding.      The   magazines,    arsenals,    depot 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  321 

buildings,  factories  of  one  kind  and  another  with 
storehouses  containing  large  amounts  of  govern 
ment  property,  and  some  1,700  bales  of  cotton  / 
burned.  Private  houses  were  respected  every 
where —  even  those  of  noted  rebels;  and  I  heard 
of  no  instance  of  pillage  or  insult  to  the  inhabi 
tants.  One  or  two  of  the  latter,  known  as  having 
been  in  the  rebel  army,  were  made  prisoners  of 
war,  but  the  surgeons  at  the  hospitals,  the  principal 
of  the  insane  asylum,  and  others,  expressed  their 
gratitude  that  such  perfect  order  was  maintained 
throughout  the  city. 

"  General  Sherman  is  at  the  executive  mansion, 
its  former  occupant  having  with  extremely  bad 
grace  fled  from  his  distinguished  visitor,  taking 
with  him  the  entire  furniture  of  the  building.  As 
General  Sherman  travels  with  a  menage,  (a  roll  of 
blankets,  and  haversack  full  of  hard-tack,)  which 
is  as  complete  for  a  life  out  in  the  open  air  as  in  a 
palace,  the  discourtesy  of  Govornor  Brown  was  not 
a  serious  inconvenience. 

"  General  Sherman's  opening  move  in  the  pre 
sent  campaign  has  been  successful  in  the  highest 
degree.  At  first  moving  his  army  in  three  columns, 
with  a  column  of  cavalry  on  his  extreme  right, 
upon  eccentric  lines,  he  diverted  the  attention  of 
the  enemy,  so  that  he  concentrated  his  forces  at 


322  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

extreme  points,  Macon  and  Augusta,  leaving  un 
impeded  the  progress  of  the  main  body.  In  this 
campaign,  the  end  of  which  does  not  yet  appear, 
it  is  not  the  purpose  of  the  general  to  spend  his 
time  before  fortified  cities,  nor  yet  to  encumber 
his  wagons  with  wounded  men.  His  instructions 
to  Kilpatrick  were  to  demonstrate  against  Macon, 
getting  within  five  miles  of  the  city." 

On  the  appearance  of  our  army  in  Milledgeville, 
the  proprietor  of  the  principal  hotel  of  that  city 
fled,  leaving  the  building  and  its  valuable  contents 
in  the  hands  of  an  old  lady.  The  silver  ware  and 
other  valuables  were  deposited  in  a  closet  by  this 
old  lady,  and  securely  locked  as  she  supposed.  It 
is  said  that  one  of  the  officers  of  the  army  borrow 
ed  the  key,  in  his  official  capacity,  and  after  dis 
covering  the  contents  of  the  closet,  neglected  to 
lock  the  door,  but  returned  the  key.  The  rank 
and  file,  in  accordance  with  the  maxim  that  "  all 
is  fair  in  love  and  war,"  plunged  into  the  closet, 
and  half  an  hour  thereafter  a  chaste  variety  of 
spoons,  knives  and  forks,  silver  ware  and  crockery, 
was  flourishing  in  the  arms  of  a  hundred  soldiers. 

As  a  general  rule,  our  soldiers  were  not  per 
mitted  to  enter  private  houses,  or  disturb  the 
property  of  private  families.  They  were  allowed 
to  help  themselves  freely  to  the  productions  of  the 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  323 

country,  such  as  sweet  potatoes,  chickens,  tur 
keys,  ducks,  beef,  and  whatever  might  be  neces 
sary  for  the  comfort  of  the  "inner  man."  Few 
of  the  "  boys  in  blue"  made  the  march  on  empty 
stomachs. 

Keeping  the  general  direction  of  the  two  rail 
roads,  as  heretofore  indicated,  the  two  wings  of  the 
army  moved  on,  overcoming  the  obstacles  in  their 
way  without  much  difficulty  and  without  any  very 
serious  fighting.  The  enemy  learned,  when  it  was 
too  late,  that  Sherman  would  not  delay  his  columns 
for  the  sake  of  capturing  the  city  of  Macon,  where 
they  had  a  strong  force  concentrated  behind  breast 
works  and  fortifications.  Nor  could  the  enemy  tell 
as  the  army  moved  east,  whether  Sherman  aimed 
at  Augusta  and  Charleston  or  Savannah.  The 
deception  was  kept  up  until  the  whole  army  was 
concentrated  at  Millen,  with  the  exception  of  the 
cavalry,  a  portion  of  which,  under  Kilpatrick,  oc 
cupied  Waynesboro,  between  Millen  and  Augusta 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  up  the  deception.  The 
army  then  turned  South  and  marched  down  the 
peninsula  between  the  Savannah  and  Ogeechee 
Rivers.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  8th  of  December, 
the  signal  guns  of  the  navy,  in  Ossabaw  Sound,  were 
distinctly  heard,  which  sent  a  thrill  of  gladness 
through  the  hearts  of  our  brave  soldiers. 


324 

On  the  evening  of  December  the  9th,  General 
Howard  sent  Captain  Duncan  and  two  scouts  to 
open  up  communications  with  General  Foster  and 
Admiral  Dahlgren.  The  captain  descended  the 
Ogeechee  River  in  a  small  boat  on  the  12th, 
and  delivered  the  following  dispatch  to  Admiral 
Dahlgren : 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  TENNESSEE,  } 
NEAR  SAVANNAH  CANAL,  Dec.,  9,  1864.      j 

To  the  Commander  of  the  United  States  Naval 
Forces  in  the  vicinity  of  Savannah,  Georgia  — 
SIR  :     We  have  met  with  perfect  success  thus 
far.     The  troops  are  in  fine  spirits  and  near  by. 

Respectfully, 

O.  0.  HOWARD,  Major- General, 
Commanding  Right  Wing  of  the  Army. 
On  Tuesday,  December  13th,  the  second  division 
of  the  Fifteenth  Corps  captured  Fort  McAllister. 
This  work  is  situated  on  the  Ogeechee  River  fifteen 
miles  from  Savannah,  at  the  point  where  the  river 
is   crossed  by  the   Savarinah,   Albany   and  Gulf 
Railroad,    and    about    six    miles    from    Ossabaw 
Sound.     The  capture  of  this  fort  opened  complete 
communications  between  the  army  and  the  navy. 
Sherman  sent  to  the  War  Department  the  fol 
lowing  dispatch,  announcing  the  capture  of  Fort 
McAllister  and  the  success  of  his  march  to  the  sea : 
"  To-day,  at  5  P.  M.,  General  Hazen's  division 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  325 

of  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  carried  Fort  McAllister  by 
assault,  capturing  its  entire  garrison  and  stores. 
This  opened  to  us  the  Ossabaw  Sound,  and  I  passed 
down  on  a  gun-boat  to  communicate  with  the 
fleet.  Before  opening  the  communication  we  had 
completely  destroyed  all  railroads  leading  into  Sa 
vannah,  and  invested  the  city.  The  left  is  on  the 
Savannah  Kiver,  ten  miles  above  this  city,  and  the 
right  on  the  Ogeechee,  at  King's  Bridge. 

"  The  army  is  in  splendid  order,  the  weather  fine, 
and  supplies  abundant.  Our  march  was  most 
agreeable  and  not  molested  by  guerillas.  "We 
reached  Savannah  three  days  ago,  but  owing  to 
Fort  McAllister  we  could  not  communicate ;  but 
now  we  have  Fort  McAllister,  we  can  go  ahead. 
We  have  captured  two  boats  on  Savannah  River, 
and  prevented  their  gunboats  from  coming  down. 
The  estimated  population  of  Savannah  is  25,000, 
and  the  garrison  15,000.  Gen.  Hardee  commands. 

"  We  have  not  lost  a  wagon  on  the  trip,  but  have 
gathered  in  a  large  supply  of  negroes,  mules  and 
horses.  Our  teams  are  in  better  condition  than 
when  we  started.  My  first  duty  will  be  to  clear 
the  army  of  superfluous  negroes,  mules  and  horses. 

"  I  have  utterly  destroyed  over  two  hundred  miles 
of  rail,  and  consumed  all  stores  and  provisions  that 
were  essential  to  the  armies  of  Lee  and  Hood. 


B* 


326  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

a  The  quick  work  made  with  McAllister,  and  the 
opening  of  communication  with  our  fleet,  and  con 
sequent  independence  for  supplies,  dissipates  all 
their  boasted  threats  to  head  me  off  and  starve  the 
army. 

"  /  regard  Savannah  as  already  gained. 
"Yours  truly, 

( Signed, )  "  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

"  Major- General." 

In  this  connection,  the  reader  will  be  pleased 
with  the  following  extracts  from  the  journal  of  one 
who  accompanied  the  grand  triumphal  march  of 
Sherman,  from  which  he  will  be  able  to  gather  a 
history  of  the  more  important  events  and  incidents 
of  the  march  not  heretofore  recorded  in  these 
pages : 

MARCHING  ON. 

NEAR  TONNILLE  STATION,  ON  THE  GEORGIA  ) 
CENTRAL  RAILROAD,  Nov.  27.      j 

Since  writing  the  above,  the  enemy  have  moved 
forward  all  along  the  line.  The  rebels  seem  to 
have  understood,  but  too  late,  that  it  was  not  Sher- 
intention  to  make  a  serious  attack  upon 
Macon.  They  have,  however,  succeeded  in  getting 
Wheeler  across  the  Oconee  at  a  point  below  the 
railroad  bridge.  We  first  became  aware  of  their 
presence  in  our  front  by  the  destruction  of  several 
small  bridges  across  Buffalo  Creek,  on  the  two 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  327 

roads  leading  to   Sandersville,  over  which   were 
advancing  the  Twentieth  and  Fourteenth  Corps. 

We  were  delayed  but  a  few  hours.  The  passage 
was  also  contested  by  the  rebel  cavalry  under 
Wheeler,  and  they  fought  our  front  all  the  way, 
und  into  the  streets  of  Sandersville.  The  Twen 
tieth  Corps  had  the  advance,  deploying  a  regiment 
as  skirmishers,  forming  the  remainder  of  the 
brigade  in  line  of  battle  on  either  side  of  the  road. 
The  movement  was  executed  in  the  handsomest 
manner,  and  was  so  effectual  as  not  to  impede  the 
march  of  the  column  in  the  slightest  degree, 
although  the  roll  of  musketry  was  unceasing. 
Our  loss  was  not  serious,  twenty  odd  killed  and 
wounded. 

NEAR  THE  OCONEE. 

As  the  Twentieth  Corps  entered  the  town  they 
were  met  by  the  Fourteenth,  whose  head  of  column 
arrived  at  the  same  moment.  WTiile  these  two 
corps  had  met  with  the  obstructions  above  men 
tioned,  the  army,  under  Gen.  Howard,  was 
attempting  to  throw  a  pontoon  across  the  Oconee 
at  the  Georgia  Central  Railroad  Bridge.  Here 
they  met  a  force  under  the  command  of  General 
Wayne,  which  was  composed  of  a  portion  of  Wheel 
er's  cavalry,  militia,  and  a  band  of  convicts  who 
had  been  liberated  from  the  penitentiary  upon  the 
condition  that  they  would  join  the  army. 


328  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

The  most  of  these  desperadoes  have  been  taken 
prisoners,  dressed  in  their  State  Prison  clothing. 
General  Sherman  has  turned  them  loose,  believing 
that  Grov.  Brown  had  not  got  the  full  benefits  of 
his  liberality.  The  rebels  did  not  make  a  remark 
ably  stern  defense  of  the  bridge,  for  Howard  was 
able  to  cross  his  army  yesterday,  and  commenced 
creaking  railroad  again  to-day.  In  fact,  all  of  the 
army,  except  one  corps,  are  engaged  in  the  same 
work.  Morgan,  with  his  army,  was  hardly  able  to 
reach  this  point  when  he  met  G-en.  Hardee,  who 
has  managed  to  get  around  here  from  Macon.  Our 
troops  struck  the  railroad  at  the  station  a  few  hours 
after  the  frightened  band  escaped. 

THANKSGIVING  DAY  KEPT. 

"We  have  been  told  that  the  country  was  very 
poor  east  of  Oconee,  but  our  experience  has  been 
a  delightful  gastronomic  contradiction  of  the  state 
ment.  The  cattle  trains  are  getting  so  large  that 
we  find  difficulty  in  driving  them  along.  Thanks 
giving  Day  was  very  generally  observed  in  the 
army;  the  troops  scorning  chickens  in  the  plen- 
titude  of  turkeys  with  which  they  had  supplied 
themselves. 

SUPPLIES   ABUNDANT. 

Vegetables  of  all  kinds,  and  in  unlimited  quan 
tities,  were  at  hand,  and  the  soldiers  gave  thanks 
as  soldiers  may,  and  were  merry  as  soldiers  can 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  329 

be.  In  truth,  so  far  as  tlie  gratification  of  the 
stomach  goes,  the  troops  are  pursuing  a  continuous 
thanksgiving. 

In  addition  to  fowls,  vegetables  and  meats,  many 
obtain  a  delicious  syrup  made  from  sorghum,  which 
is  cultivated  on  all  the  plantations,  and  stored  away 
in  large  troughs  and  hogsheads.  The  mills  here 
and  there  furnish  fresh  supplies  of  flour  and  meal, 
and  we  hear  little  or  nothing  of  "  hard-tack,"  that 
terror  to  weak  mastication.  Over  the  sections  of 
country  lately  traversed  I  find  very  little  culti 
vation  of  cotton.  The  commands  of  Davis  appear 
to  have  been  obeyed;  and  our  large  droves  of 
cattle  are  turned  nightly  into  the  immense  fields  of 
ungathered  corn  to  eat  their  fill,  while  the  granaries 
are  crowded  to  overflowing  with  both  oats  and 
corn. 

"We  have  also  reached  the  sand  regions,  so  that 
the  fall  of  rain  has  no  terrors ;  the  roads  are  ex 
cellent,  and  would  become  firmer  from  a  liberal 
wetting.  The  rise  of  the  river  will  not  bother  us 
much,  for  each  army  corps  has  its  pontoons,  and 
the  launching  of  its  boats  is  the  matter  of  an  hour. 

THE    COUNTRY    PEOPLE 

all  through  this  section  were  found  to  be  extremely 
ignorant.  Rich  men  there  are,  whose  plantations 
line  the  roads  for  miles ;  men  and  women  who  own, 
or  did  own,  hundreds  of  slaves,  and  raised  every 


330  MA*    GEIi'.  W.'  T.  SHERMAN, 

year  their  thousand  bales  of  cotton;  but  their 
ignorance  is  only  equalled  by  that  twin  sister  of 
ignorance,  intolerance.  I  can  understand,  as  I 
never  did  before,  why  it  was  that  a  few  persons, 
who  every  year  represented  the  South  in  Congress, 
were  able  to  wield  that  influence  as  a  unit.  Many 
of  the  people  claim  to  have  been  Unionists  from 
the  beginning  of  the  war.  It  seems  hard,  some 
times,  to  strip  such  men  as  clear  of  all  eatables  as 
do  our  troops,  who  have  the  art  cultivated  to  the 
most  eminent  degree ;  but,  as  Gen.  Sherman  often 
says  to  them  :  "  If  it  is  true  that  you  are  Unionists, 
you  should  not  have  permitted  Jeff.  Davis  to 
dragoon  you,  until  you  are  as  much  his  slaves  as 
once  the  niggers  were  yours." 

Gren.  Sherman  invites  all  able-bodied  negroes 
(others  could  not  make  the  march,)  to  join  the 
column,  and  he  takes  especial  pleasure  when  they 
join  the  procession,  on  some  occasions  telling  them 
they  are  free ;  that  Massa  Lincoln  has  given  them 
their  liberty,  and  that  they  can  go  where  they 
please ;  that  if  they  earn  their  freedom  they  should 
have  it ;  but  that  Massa  Lincoln  has  given  it  to 
them  anyhow.  Thousands  of  negro  women  join 
the  column,  some  carrying  household  truck ;  others, 
and  many  of  them  there  are,  who  bear  the  heavy 
burden  of  children  in  their  arms,  while  older  boys 
and  girls  plod  by  their  sides.  All  these  women 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  331 

and  children  are  ordered  back,  "heart-rending  though 
it  may  be  to  refuse  them  liberty. 

But  the  majority  accept  the  advent  of  the 
Yankees,  as  the  fulfillment  of  the  millennial  proph 
ecies.  The  "  day  of  jubilee,"  the  hope  and  prayer 
of  a  lifetime,  has  come.  They  cannot  be  made  to 
understand  that  they  must  remain  behind,  and  they 
are  satisfied  only  when  General  Sherman  tells  them 
—  as  he  does  every  day — that  we  shall  come  back 
for  them  some  time,  and  that  they  must  be  patient 
until  the  proper  hour  of  deliverance  comes. 

THE  MARCH  TO   THE  OGEECHEE. 

Nov.  29,  NEAR  JOHNSON'S,  ON  THE  SOUTH  \ 
SIDE  OF  THE  GEORGIA  RAILROAD,      j 

We  have  not  heard  from  the  army  on  the  north 
side  of  the  railroad  since  it  left  us  at  Sandersville ; 
nor  from  Kilpatrick  until  to-day,  and  then  indi 
rectly  through  a  negro,  who  reports  that  the  son  of 
his  master  rode  all  the  way  from  Louisville  in  great 
haste,  reporting  that  "Wheeler  was  fighting  the 
Yankees,  who  were  advancing  on  Augusta.  Gen 
eral  Sherman's  second  step  in  this  campaign  will 
have  been  equally  successful  with  the  first,  if  he  is 
able  to  cross  the  Ogeechee  to-morrow  without  much 
opposition.  Davis'  and  Kilpatrick' s  movement  has 
been  a  blind,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  passage  over 
the  Ogeechee  of  the  main  body  of  the  army,  which 


332  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

for  two  days  past  has  been  marching  on  parallel 
roads  south  of  the  railroad. 

Thus  far  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  rebels 
are  ignorant  of  our  principal  movement,  and  are 
trembling  with  the  fear  that  Augusta  is  our 
objective. 

Kilpatrick  is  doing  the  same  work  which  he 
accomplished  with  such  high  honor  when  cover 
ing  our  right  flank  in  the  early  days  of  the  cam 
paign.  His  column  now  acts  as  a  curtain  upon 
the  extreme  left,  through  which  the  enemy  may  in 
vain  attempt  to  penetrate.  He  has  a  yet  grander 
aim  in  view.  If  he  succeeds,  his  name  will  not 
only  stand  at  the  head  of  our  great  cavalry  gen 
erals,  but  it  will  be  uttered  with  the  prayers  and 
blessings  of  the  wives  and  children  of  the  prisoners 
whom  he  may  liberate  at  Millen,  which  is  the  point 
he  aims  for,  and  where  have  been  incarcerated 
many  thousands  of  our  brave  comrades.  Kil- 
patrick  started  on  the  same  day  that  our  army  left 
Milledgeville,  the  25th  instant. 

ON   THE   MARCH. 

All  day  long  the  army  has  been  marching 
through  magnificent  pine  woods — the  savannahs 
of  the  South,  as  they  are  termed.  I  have  never 
seen,  and  I  can't  conceive,  a  more  picturesque 
sight  than  the  army  winding  along  through  these 
grand  old  woods.  The  pines  rise,  naked  of 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  333 

branches,  eighty  and  ninety  feet,  and  then  are 
crowned  with  a  tuft  of  pure  green.  The  trees  are 
wide  apart,  so  that  frequently  two  trains  of  wagons 
and  troops  in  double  columns  are  marching  abreast. 
In  the  distance  may  be  seen  a  troop  of  horsemen, 
some  general  and  his  staff,  turning  about,  here  and 
there,  their  gay  uniforms  and  red  and  white  flags 
contrasting  harmoniously  with  the  bright,  yellow 
grass  underneath  and  the  deep  evergreen.  War 
has  its  romance  and  its  pleasures,  and  nothing 
could  be  more  delightful,  nor  can  there  be  more 
beautiful  subjects  for  the  artist's  pencil  than  a 
thousand  sights  which  have  met  my  eye  for  .days 
past,  and  which  can  never  be  seen  outside  the 
army. 

STATION  ON  GEORGIA  CENTRAL  RAILROAD,  1 
Wednesday,  November  30th,  1864.      J 

With  the  exception  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  our 
army  is  across  the  Ogeechee,  and  without  fighting 
a  battle  This  river  is  a  line  of  great  strength  to 

he  rebf  Is,  and  they  might  have  made  its  passage 
a  costly  effort  for  us,  but  they  have  been  outwitted 
and  outmanoeuvred.  I  am  more  convinced  than 
ever  <,hat  if  General  Sherman  intends  taking  his 
army  to  the  seaboard,  it  is  evidently  his  policy  to 
avoid  a  battle,  or  any  contest  which  will  delay  him 

n  the  establishment  of  a  new  base  of  operations 
aivi  supplies;  if  he  is  able  to  establish  this  new 


334 

base,  and  at  the  same  time  destroy  all  the  lines  of 
communication  from  the  rebel  armies,  with  the 
great  cities,  so  that  they  will  be  as  much  isolated 
as  if  those  strongholds  were  in  our  hands,  he  will 
have  accomplished  the  greatest  strategic  victory 
in  the  war,  and  all  the  more  welcome  because 
bloodless. 

We  have  heard  to-day  from  Kilpatrick  and  from 
Millen.  Kilpatrick  made  a  splendid  march,  fighting 
all  the  way  to  Waynesboro,  destroying  the  railroad 
bridge  crossing  Briar  Creek,  between  Augusta  and 
Millen.  It  is  with  real  grief  that  I  write  he  was 
unable  to  accomplish  the  release  of  our  prij  oners. 
It  appears  that  for  some  time  past  the  rebels  have 
been  removing  our  soldiers  from  Millen;  the 
officers  have  been  sent  to  Columbia,  S.  C.,  and  the 
privates  further  south,,  somewhere  on  the  Gulf 
Railroad. 

THE  PASSAGE  OP  THE  OGEECHEE. 

We  have  had  very  little  difficulty  in  crossing  the 
Ogeechee.  The  Twentieth  Corps  moved  down  the 
railroad,  destroying  it  to  the  bridge.  The  Sev 
enteenth  Corps  covered  the  river  at  this  point, 
where  a  light  bridge  was  only  partially  destroyed. 
It  was  easily  repaired,  so  that  the  infantry  and 
cavalry  could  pass  over  it,  while  the  wagons  and 
artillery  used  the  pontoons.  The  Ogeechee  is  about 
sixty  yards  in  width  at  this  point.  It  is  approached 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  335 

on  the  northern  or  western  side  through  swamps, 
which  would  be  impassable  were  it  not  for  the  sandy 
soil  which  packs  solid  when  the  water  covers  the 
roads,  although  in  places  there  are  treacherous 
quicksands  which  we  are  obliged  to  corduroy. 

This  evening  I  walked  down  to  the  river.  A 
novel  and  vivid  sight  was  it  to  see  the  fires  of  pitch 
pine  flaring  up  into  the  mist  and  darkness,  the 
figures  of  men  and  horses  looming  out  of  the  dense 
shadows  in  gigantic  proportions.  Torchlights  are 
blinking  and  flashing  away  off  in  the  forests,  while 
the  still  air  echoed  and  reechoed  with  the  cries  of 
the  teamsters  and  the  wild  shouts  of  the  soldiers. 
A  long  line  of  the  troops  marched  across  the  front 
bridge,  each  soldier  bearing  a  torch ;  their  light 
reflected  in  quivering  lines  in  the  swift  running 
stream. 

IN  A  FOG. 

Soon  the  fog,  which  settles  like  a  blanket  over 
the  swamps  and  forests  of  the  river  bottoms,  shut 
down  upon  the  scene,  and  so  dense  and  dark  was 
it,  that  torches  were  of  but  little  use,  and  men  were 
directed  here  and  there  by  the  voice. 

AN  ORIGINAL    CHARACTER. 

At  this  station  we  came  across  an  old  man  named 
Wells,  who  was  the  most  original  character  I  ever 
met.  He  was  depot-master  in  the  days  when  there 
was  a  railroad  here.  He  is  a  shrewd  old  man,  and 


330 

seemed  to  understand  the  merits  of  the  war 
question  perfectly.  He  said : 

"  They  say  you  are  retreating,  but  it  is  the 
strangest  sort  of  a  retreat  I  ever  saw.  Why,  dog 
bite  them,  the  newspapers  have  been  lying  in  this 
way  all  along.  They  allers  are  whipping  the  Fed 
eral  armies,  and  they  allers  fall  back  after  the  battle 
is  over.  It  was  that  ar'  idee  that  first  opened  my 
eyes.  Our  army  war  allers  whipping  the  Feds,  and 
we  allers  fell  back.  I  allers  told  'em  it  was  ad — d 

humbug,  and  now  by I  know  it,  for  here  you 

are  right  on  old  John  "Wells'  place ;  hogs,  potatoes, 
corn  and  fences  all  gone.  I  don't  find  any  fault. 
I  expected  it  all." 

"  Jeff.  Davis  and  the  rest,"  he  continued,  "  talk 
about  splitting  the  Union.  Why  if  South  Caro 
lina  had  gone  out  by  herself,  she  would  have  been 
split  in  four  pieces  by  this  time.  Splitting  the 
Union!  Why  d — n  it,  the  State  of  Georgia  is 
being  split  right  through  from  end  to  end.  It  is 
these  rich  fellows  who  are  making  this  war,  and 
keeping  their  precious  bodies  out  of  harm's  way. 
There's  John  Franklin  went  through  here  the  other 
day,  running  away  from  your  army.  I  could  have 
played  dominoes  on  his  coat  tails.  There's  my 
poor  brother,  sick  with  small-pox  at  Macon,  work 
ing  for  eleven  dollars  a  month,  and  hasn't  got  a 
cent  of  the  d — d  stuff  for  a  year.  'Leven  dollars 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  337 

a  month  and  eleven  thousand  bullets  a  minute. 
I  don't  believe  in  it,  sir. 

"My  wife  came  from  Canada,  and  I  kind  o' 
thought  I  would  sometime  go  there  to  live,  but  was 
allers  afraid  of  the  ice  and  cold ;  but  I  can  tell  you 
this  country  is  getting  too  cussed  hot  for  me.  Look 
at  my  fence  rails  burning  there.  I  think  I  can 
stand  the  cold  better. 

"  I  heard  as  how  they  cut  down  the  trees  across 
your  road,  up  country,  and  burn  the  bridges ;  why, 

( dog  bite  their  hides  ! )  one  of  your  Yankees  can 
take  up  a  tree  and  carry  it  off,  tops  and  all ;  and 
there's  that  bridge  you  put  across  the  river  in  less 
than  two  hours — they  might  as  well  try  to  stop 
the  Ogeechee  as  you  Yankees. 

"  The  blasted  rascals  who  burnt  this  yere  bridge 
thought  they  did  a  big  thing ;  a  natural  born  fool 
cut  in  two  had  more  sense  in  either  end  than  any 
of  them. 

"To  bring  back  the  good  old  times,"  he  said, 
"  it'll  take  the  help  of  Divine  Providence,  a  heap  of 
rain,  and  a  deal  of  elbow  grease,  to  fix  things  up 
again." 

SHERMAN'S  MANCEUVRES. 

SCARBORO',  G-a.,  December  3. 

Pivoted  upon  Millen,  the  army  has  swung  slowly 
round  from  its  eastern  course,  and  is  now  moving 
in   six   columns   upon   parallel   roads  southward. 
C* 


338 

Until  yesterday  it  was  impossible  for  the  rebels  to 
decide  whether  or  not  it  was  General  Sherman's 
intention  to  march  upon  Augusta.  Kilpatrick  had 
destroyed  the  bridge  above  Waynesboro,  and,  fall 
ing  back,  had  again  advanced,  supported  by  the 
Fourteenth  Army  Corps,  under  General  Davis. 
South  of  this  column,  moving  eastward  through 
Birdsville,  was  the  Twentieth  Corps,  commanded 
by  General  Slocum.  Yet,  further  south,  the  Seven 
teenth  Corps,  General  Blair  in  command,  followed 
the  railroad,  destroying  it  as  he  advanced.  West 
and  south  of  the  Ogeechee  the  Fifteenth  Corps, 
General  Osterhaus  in  immediate  command,  but 
under  the  eye  of  General  Howard,  has  moved  in 
two  columns. 

Until  now  Davis  and  Kilpatrick  have  been  a 
cover  and  shield  to  the  real  movements.  At  no 
time  has  it  been  possible  for  Hardee  to  interpose 
any  serious  obstacle  to  the  advance  of  the  main 
body  of  our  army,  for  our  left  wing  has  always  been 
a  strong  arm  thrust  out  in  advance,  ready  to  put  in 
chancery  any  force  which  might  attempt  to  get 
within  its  reach. 

The  rebel  councils  of  war  appear  to  have  been 
completely  deceived,  for  we  hear  it  reported  that 
Bragg  and  Longstreet  are  at  Augusta,  with  10,000 
men,  made  up  of  militia,  two  or  three  South  Caro 
lina  regiments,  and  a  portion  of  Hampton's  Legion, 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  339 

sent  there  for  one  month.  It  is  possible,  now,  that 
the  curtain  has  been  withdrawn,  and  as  it  may  ap 
pear  that  we  are  marching  straight  for  Savannah, 
their  generals,  with  their  ten  thousand,  may  attempt 
to  harass  our  rear ;  but  they  can  accomplish  noth 
ing  but  the  loss  of  a  few  lives,  without  checking  our 
progress. 

The  work  so  admirably  performed  by  our  left 
wing,  so  far  as  to  oblige  the  rebels  in  our  front  con 
stantly  to  retreat,  by  threatening  their  rear,  now 
becomes  the  office  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  our 
right  wing  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river.  Its  two 
columns  are  moving  one  day's  march  in  advance 
of  the  main  body  of  the  army,  marching  down  the 
peninsula  between  the  Savannah  and  Ogeechee 
Rivers.  The  necessity  and  value  of  these  flank 
movements,  first  of  the  right  wing  with  Kilpatrick's 
cavalry,  then  of  Davis  and  Kilpatrick  on  the  left, 
and  now  of  Howard  on  our  right,  is  because  we 
cannot  run  over  and  demolish  any  and  all  the  rebel 
forces  in  Georgia.  They  could  not  for  a  moment 
stand  before  this  army  upon  any  ordinary  battle 
ground,  but  a  very  small  force  of  infantry  and  cav 
alry  at  a  river  could  delay  a  column  half  a  day,  and 
perhaps  longer,  and  as  our  soldiers  have  got  tired 
of  chickens,  sweet  potatoes,  sorghum,  &c.,  and  have 
been  promised  oysters  on  the  half  shell,  oysters 


340  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

roasted,  stewed,  &c.,  in  short,  oysters,  they  don't 
care  to  be  delayed. 

The  railroad,  which  has  been  receiving  our  im 
mediate  attention  within  the  last  week,  is  altogther 
the  best  we  have  seen  in  the  State,  though  the  rail 
itself  is  not  so  heavy  as  the  T  rail  on  the  Augusta 
and  Atlanta  Eoad. 

"We  daily  traverse  immense  corn  fields,  covering 
from  one  hundred  to  one  thousand  acres.  These 
were  once  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  cotton,  and 
it  is  surprising  to  see  how  the  planters  have  carried 
out  the  orders  or  wishes  of  the  rebel  government 
in  this  respect.  There  has  been  a  large  amount  of 
cotton  destroyed  in  this  campaign,  but  it  must  have 
been  but  a  small  portion  even  of  the  limited  crop 
raised,  as  the  destruction  has  chiefly  been  away 
from  the  railroads.  As  near  as  we  can  learn,  two- 
thirds  of  the  cotton  has  been  sent  over  the  Georgia 
Central  Railroad  to  Augusta  by  way  of  Millen ; 
from  thence  a  limited  amount  has  been  transported 
to  Wilmington  for  trans- Atlantic  shipment;  the 
balance  yet  remains  in  the  vicinity  of  Columbia, 
South  Carolina . 

One  thing  is  most  certain,  neither  the  West  nor 
the  East  will  draw  any  supplies  from  the  counties  in 
this  State  traversed  by  our  army  for  a  long  time 
to  come ;  our  work  has  been  the  next  thing  to 
annihilation. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  341 

CONCENTRATION   AT   OQEECHEE — A   FICfHT. 

OGEECHEE  CHURCH,  December  6. 

The  army  for  two  days  past  has  been  concentrat 
ing  at  this  point,  which  is  the  narrowest  part  of  the 
peninsula.  General  Howard  is  still  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Ogeechee,  but  is  within  supporting  dis 
tance,  and  has  ample  means  of  crossing  the  river 
should  it  be  necessary,  which  is  not  at  all  probable. 
Kilpatrick  has  again  done  noble  work.  On  Sun 
day  last,  while  marching  toward  Alexander,  for  the 
purpose  of  more  thoroughly  completing  the  de 
struction  of  the  railroad  bridge  crossing  Briar 
Creek,  we  found  Wheeler  on  his  way  near  "Waynes- 
boro.  He  fought  him  several  times,  punishing 
him  severely  in  each  instance,  driving  his  infantry 
and  cavalry  before  him  through  Waynesboro  and 
beyond  the  bridge,  which  was  completely  destroy 
ed.  He  rejoined  the  main  body  of  our  army  then 
marching  southward. 

A  significant  feature  of  this  campaign,  which  has 
not  before  been  mentioned  in  this  diary,  received  a 
marked  illustration  yesterday.  /Except  in  a  few 
instances,  private  residences  haVe  not  been  de 
stroyed.  Yesterday  we  passed  the  plantation  of  a 
Mr.  Stubbs.  The  house,  cotton-gin,  press,  corn- 
ricks,  stables,  everything  was  in  flames,  and  in  the^ 
dooryard  lay  the  the  dead  bodies  of  several  blood 
hounds,  that  had  been  used  to  track  and  pull  down  --' 


342  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

negroes  and  our  escaped  prisoners.    And  wherever 
our  army  has  passed,  everything  in  the  shape  of  a 
dog  has  been  killed.     The  soldiers  and  officers  are 
X  determined  that  no  more  flying  fugitives,  white 
men  or  negroes,  shall  be  followed  by  track  hounds 
i  that  come  within  reach  of  their  powder  and  ball,  j 

THE   ARMY   FURTHER    SOUTH. 

DECEMBER  8. 

The  army  has  been  advancing  slowly  and  surely, 
but  as  cautiously  as  if  a  strong  army  were  in  our 
front.  The  relative  position  of  the  troops  has  not 
materially  changed  since  last  writing,  except  that 
we  are  all  further  South.  From  fifteen  to  twenty 
miles  lies  Savannah,  it  is  to  be  supposed,  in  some 
perturbation  at  the  certainty  of  our  approach.  If 
the  rebels  intend  fighting  in  defence  of  the  city,  it 
will  be  behind  their  fortifications,  for  as  yet  we 
have  only  skirmished  with  parties  of  cavalry,  and 
they  have  not  seen  the  head  of  our  infantry  column. 

A   BOLD   MOVEMENT. 

General  Howard  has  just  returned  from  a  very 
successful  movement.  Fearing  that  we  should  de 
tach  a  force  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  Gulf 
Road,  which  they  are  using  to  its  utmost  capacity 
just  now,  they  pushed  a  force  across  the  Ogeechee. 
While  this  body  were  covered  by  a  strong  riverside 
line,  General  Corse,  of  Altoona  memory,  shoved 
his  division  between  the  Little  and  Great  Ogeechee, 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  343 

thirteen  miles  in  advance  of  the  main  columns  to 
the  canal,  which  runs  from  the  Ogeechee  to  the  Sa 
vannah  River.  He  bridged  the  canal,  crossed  it 
with  his  division,  and  now  holds  a  position  out  of 
which  Hood's  army  could  not  drive  him. 

This  bold  step  had  forced  the  rebels  to  evacuate 
the  line  of  works  stretching  from  river  to  river, 
and  they  have  now  fairly  sought  refuge  in  the 
fortifications  proper  of  Savannah. 

HEARING  THE  SIGNAL  GUNS  OF  THE  GUNBOATS. 

All  the  afternoon  we  have  heard  the  signal  guns 
of  our  gunboats,  supposed  to  be  in  Ossabaw  Sound. 
My  heart  thrills  with  gladness  to  think  that  we  are 
within  speaking  distance  of  our  brethren  of  the 
brave  navy,  and  that  we  are  hereafter  to  act  in 
unison  with,  we  hope,  more  purpose  than  has  been 
the  result  with  most  expeditions  on  the  Atlantic 
coast.  The  next  three  clays  promises  to  be  full  of 
interest,  for  we  shall  now  seek  to  establish  a  base 
in  connection  with  our  fleet. 

CLOSING  IN  UPON  SAVANNAH. 

DECEMBER  9. 

We  are  gradually  closing  in  upon  the  city. 
General  Howard  holds  the  position  gained  on  the 
other  side  of  the  canal  yesterday,  and  has  advanced 
the  larger  part  of  his  command  in  its  support. 
Portions  of  our  army  are  now  within  eight  miles  of 
Savannah.  General  Blair's  column  lost  several 


844  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

officers  and  men,  some  of  them  by  honorable  fight 
ing,   as    the   rebels  withstood  the   advance  with 
pertinacity. 

One  officer  and  several  men  were  severely 
wounded  by  the  explosion  of  shells  and  torpedoes 
buried  and  concealed  in  the  road,  which  was  an 
attempt  at  cowardly  murder.  The  prisoners  were 
marched  over  the  road,  and  removed  two  of  these 
treacherous,  death-dealing  instruments. 

General  Davis  is  to-night  at  Cherokee  Hill,  hav 
ing  crossed  the  Charleston  Road,  partially  destroy 
ing  the  bridge  spanning  the  Savannah.  He  has 
also  been  opposed  by  the  rebels,  but,  as  with  the 
other  columns,  the  opposition  only  accelerated  the 
progress  of  the  troops,  who  hurry  forward  on  the 
double-quick  at  the  sound  of  the  guns,  eager  to 
get  into  the  fight.  To-morrow  we  may  expect 
to  have  concentrated  our  army  so  as  to  form  a 
continuous  line  about  the  city. 

STRONG  LINES  OF  REBEL  WORKS. 

DECEMBER  10. 

The  army  has  advanced  some  six  miles  to-day, 
and  have  everywhere  a  strong  line  of  works,  which 
appear  to  be  held  by  a  large  force ;  with  32-pound 
guns  in  position,  their  line,  although  extended,  is 
more  easily  defended,  because  of  a  succession  of 
impassable  swamps,  which  stretch  across  the  pen 
insula.  All  the  openings  between  these  morasses 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  345 

the  roads  which  lead  through  them,  are  strong 
ly  fortified,  and  the  approaches  have  been  contested 
vigorously,  but  with  little  loss  to  us.  General 
Sherman  seems  to  avoid  the  sacrifice  of  life,  and  I 
doubt  his  making  any  serious  attack  until  he  has 
communication  with  the  fleet. 

We  have  connected  our  lines,  so  that  the  corps 
are  within  supporting  distance  of  each  other.  The 
soldiers  are,  meanwhile,  in  most  cheerful  spirits, 
with  that  insousciance  which  is  the  most  charac 
teristic  feature  of  our  troops. 

CAPTURE  OF  FORT  MCALLISTER. 

DECEMBER  13. 

At  Fort  McAllister.  To-day  I  have  been  a  spec 
tator  of  one  of  those  glorious  sights  where  the 
actors,  passing  through  the  most  fearful  ordeal  of 
fire  which  befalls  the  soldier,  come  out  successful, 
and  are  always  after  heroes. 

The  Second  division  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps  have 
marched  to-day  fifteen  miles  ;  and,  without  the  as 
sistance  of  artillery,  have  crossed  an  open  space  of 
six  hundred  yards,  under  a  fierce  fire  of  twenty- 
one  heavy  guns,  crawling  through  a  thick  abatis, 
crossed  a  ditch  of  great  depth,  at  whose  bottom 
were  driven  thick  palisades,  torn  them  away, 
surmounted  the  crest  and  palisades,  shot  and 
bayoneted  the  gunners,  who  refused  to  surrender, 
at  their  posts,  and  planted  the  stars  and  stripes 


346 

npon  the  work  in  triumph.  The  assault  was  made 
with  a  single  line,  which  approached  the  fort  from 
all  sides  but  that  of  the  river,  at  the  same  instant, 
never  for  an  instant  wavering,  no  man  lurking 
shelter,  but  facing  the  fire  manfully. 

The  explosion  of  torpedoes  at  this  point  did  not 
deter  them.  General  Sherman's  old  division  and 
corps  had  been  told  that  he  had  said,  "  Carry  the 
place  by  assault  to-night,  if  possible."  They  re 
solved  to  fulfill  their  old  commander's  wish,  and 
they  did  it.  Perhaps  in  the  history  of  this  war 
there  has  not  been  a  more  striking  example  of  the 
evidence  of  quick,  determined  action.  Had  we 
waited,  put  up  intrenchments,  shelled  the  place, 
and  made  the  usual  approaches,  we  should  have 
lost  many  more  lives,  and  time  was  invaluable. 
As  it  is,  our  entire  loss  is  not  more  than  ninety 
men  killed  and  wounded,  and  we  have  gained  a 
necessity — a  base  of  supplies.  Our  whole  army 
are  eager  to  emulate  such  a  glorious  example,  and 
this  esprit  du  corps  has  been  raised  to  the  grandest 
height. 

General  Sherman  did  not  feel  that  his  march  to 
the  sea  was  completed  until  Savannah  was  captured. 
That  city  fell,  as  Jericho  of  old  did,  without  resis 
tance.  Its  gates  were  opened,  and  the  conqueror 
marched  in. 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  347 

After  the  capture  of  Fort  McAllister,  Sherman 
began  the  systematic  investment  of  the  city.  The 
enemy  made  the  best  use  of  every  natural  advan 
tage  against  us.  The  rice  fields  below  the  city 
were  flooded  by  means  of  the  canals,  rendering  an 
advance  from  that  quarter  difficult.  The  swamps 
north  and  west  were  perplexing  barriers.  These 
were  difficulties  only  in  the  way  of  an  assault.  Our" 
lines,  however,  were  greatly  annoyed  in  the  gradual 
approach,  by  torpedoes,  which  the  enemy  had  inge 
niously  disposed.  They  were  so  perfectly  covered 
as  to  be  almost  unnoticeable,  and  so  arranged  that 
the  slightest  pressure  of  the  foot  upon  the  small 
plug  sufficed  to  explode  them. 

This  danger  Sherman  overcome,  by  ordering  the 
rebel  prisoners  in  his  hands  to  go  before  our  ad 
vancing  lines,  find  the  torpedoes,  and  dig  them  up 
—  dig  up  the  death  traps  which  perhaps  their  own 
hands  had  planted. 

The  investment  of  the  city  was  as  complete  as 
it  could  be  made  by  the  20th  of  December.  Every 
outlet  of  the  city  was  completely  in  our  possession, 
except  the  causeway  just  b'elow  Hutchinson's 
Island,  and  every  effort  was  made  to  secure  that. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  of  December,  Sher 
man  sent  by  flag  of  truce  his  demand  for  the  sur 
render  of  the  city,  closing  his  dispatch  with  the 
words  of  General  Hood,  in  his  demand  for  the 


348 

surrender  of  Dalton  and  the  negro  troops:  "If 
tills  demand  is  not  complied  with,  I  shall  take  no 
prisoners."  Of  course  this  was  intended  as  irony 
on  the  part  of  Sherman. 

General  Hardee,  in  his  reply,  boasted  that  he  had 
men  and  supplies  enough  to  hold  the  city,  and  that 
he  would  not  surrender. 

Arrangements  were  completed  for  the  assault 
and  bombardment.  Even  the  guns  of  the  enemy 
which  had  been  captured  with  the  surrounding 
forts,  had  been  removed  and  placed  in  position  to 
aid  us  in  the  attack. 

General  Hardee  anticipated  the  assault,  and  on 
the  night  of  the  20th  evacuated,  passing  over  the 
Union  Causeway  under  the  protection  of  his  iron 
clads  and  the  batteries  of  the  lower  end  of  Hutchin- 
sori's  Island.  The  rear  guard  of  the  fugitives  fired 
the  navy-yard,  and  the  iron-clads  were  blown  up. 

On  the  following  morning,  December  21st  1864, 
the  beautiful  city  of  Savannah  was  surrendered  by 
the  mayor  and  council  of  the  city,  with  the  request 
that  private  property  and  the  rights  of  citizens 
should  be  respected. 

Thus  ended  the  most  remarkable  march  in  the 
annals  of  history.  European  journals,  and  among 
these  the  London  Times  admit  that  the  march  of 
Sherman  from  Chattanooga  to  Savannah,  is  abso 
lutely  without  a  parallel.  "  As  the  pilgrims  landed 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  349 

and  sent  liberty  and  a  glorious  form  of  nationality 
Westward,  along  their  northern  lines  of  march,  so 
the  West  sounded  back  to  the  ocean  again  that  sub 
lime  hymn  of  universal  freedom  which  our  fathers 
sung  on  Plymouth  Rock,  when  they  dedicated  this 
continent  to  God." 

This  wonderful  march,  and  those  who  took  part 
ill  it,  will  be  remembered.  The  pen  of  the  his 
torian  and  the  lays  of  the  minstrel  will  keep  this 
great  event  fresh  in  the  memory  of  men.  Even 
now  and  thus  beautifully,  has  this  story  been  woven 
into  verse  : 

SHERMAN'S  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA. 

Our  camp-fires  shone  bright  on  the  mountain 

That  frowned  on  the  river  below, 
While  we  stood  by  our  guns  in  the  morning, 

And  eagerly  watched  for  the  foe, 
When  a  rider  came  out  from  the  darkness 

That  hung  over  mountain  and  tree, 
And  shouted,  "Boys  up  and  be  ready, 

For  Sherman  will  march  to  the  sea." 

When  cheer  upon  cheer  for  bold  Sherman 

Went  up  from  each  valley  and  glen, 
And  the  bugle  reechoed  the  music 

That  came  from  the  lips  of  the  men ; 
For  we  know  that  the  stars  on  our  banner 

More  bright  in  their  splendor  would  be, 
And  that  blessing  from  North-land  would  greet  us 

As  Sherman  marched  down  to  the  sea. 


D* 


350 

Then  forward,  boys,  forward,  to  battle, 

We  marched  on  our  wearisome  way, 
And  we  strewed  the  wild  hills  of  Resaca — 

God  bless  those  who  fell  on  that  day. 
Then  Kenesaw.  dark  in  its  glory, 

Frowned  down  on  the  flag  of  the  free: 
But  the  East  and  the  West  bore  our  standard 

As  Sherman  marched  down  to  the  sea. 

Still  onward  we  pressed  till  our  banner 

Swept  out  from  Atlanta's  grim  walls, 
And  the  blood  of  the  patriot  dampened 

The  soil  where  the  traitor's  flag  falls. 
But  we  paused  not  to  weep  for  the  fallen 

Who  slept  by  each  river  and  tree  ; 
Yet  we  twined  them  wreaths  of  the  laurel 

As  Sherman  marched  down  to  the  sea. 

Proud,  proud  was  our  army  that  morning, 

That  stood  by  the  cypress  and  pine, 
When  Sherman  said:     "Boys,  you  are  weary 

This  day  fair  Savannah  is  thine." 
Then  sang  we  a  song  for  our  chieftain 

That  echoed  o'er  river  and  lea, 
And  the  stars  on  our  banner  shone  brighter 

When  Sherman  marched  down  to  the  sea. 

After  the  escape  of  General  Hardee  with  hip 
13,000  troops,  and  the  surrender  by  the  mayor  ot 
the  city,  our  army  marched  in,  to  the  evident  de 
light  of  the  citizens.  In  numerous  instances  men 
and  women  looked  upon  the  old  flag  and  wept, 
and  some  hailed  it  with  lively  demonstrations  of 

joy- 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  351 

The  fruits  of  the  capture  were  as  follows :  The 
city;  all  its  fortifications  intact,  with  the  adjoining 
rivers  and  harbors;  about  1,200  prisoners;  152 
guns;  38,000  bales  of  cotton;  large  quantities  of  am 
munition  and  rice ;  thirteen  locomotives,  and  200 
railroad  cars.  The  forts  captured  were  McAllister, 
on  the  Ogeechee;  Lawton  and  Lee,  on  the  Savannah 
Eiver,  near  the  city,  and  Jackson,  on  the  river,  two 
miles  below  the  city. 

With  the  following  orders  of  General  Sherman, 
and  one  or  two  short  extracts  from  correspondence, 
we  close  this  chapter : 

SHERMAN'S   CONGRATULATORY  ORDER    TO    HIS  ARMY. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  \ 
IN  THE  FIELD,  SAVANNAH,  Ga.,  January  8.      / 
SPECIAL  FIELD  ORDERS  No.  6. 

The  general  commanding  announces  to  the  troops  composing 
the  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi,  that  he  has  received 
from  the  President  of  the  United  States  and  from  Lieutenant 
General  Grant,  letters  conveying  the  high  sense  and  appreciation 
of  the  campaign  just  closed,  resulting  in  the  capture  of  Savannah 
and  the  defeat  of  Hood's  army  in  Tennessee. 

In  order  that  all  may  understand  the  importance  of  events,  it  is 
proper  to  revert  to  the  situation  of  affairs  in  September  last.  We 
held  Atlanta,  a  city  of  little  value  to  us,  but  so  important  to  the 
enemy  that  Mr.  Davis,  the  head  of  the  rebellious  faction  in  the 
South,  visited  his  army  near  Palmetto,  and  commanded  it  to  re 
gain  it,  as  well  as  to  ruin  and  destroy  us  by  a  series  of  measures 
which  he  thought  would  be  effectual. 

That  army,  by  a  rapid  march,  first  gained  our  railroad  near 
Big  Shanty,  and  afterward  about  Dalton.  We  pursued,  but  it 


352  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T,  SHEKMAN, 

marched  so  rapidly  that  we  could  not  overtake  it,  and  General 
Hood  led  his  army  successfully  far  toward  Mississippi,  in  hopes 
to  decoy  us  out  of  Georgia.  But  we  were  not  then  to  be  led 
away  by  him,  and  purposed  to  control  and  lead  events  ourselves. 
Generals  Thomas  and  Schofield,  commanding  the  department  to 
dur  rear,  returned  to  their  posts,  and  prepared  to  decoy  General 
Hood  into  their  meshes,  while  we  came  on  to  complete  our  original 
journey. 

We  quietly  and  deliberately  destroyed  Atlanta  and  all  the  rail 
roads  which  the  enemy  had  used  to  carry  on  war  against  us;  occu 
pied  his  State  capital,  and  then  captured  his  commercial  capital, 
which  had  been  so  strongly  fortified  from  the  sea  as  to  defy 
Approach  from  that  quarter. 

Almost  at  the  moment  of  our  victorious  entry  into  Savannah 
came  the  welcome  and  expected  news  that  our  comrades  in  Ten 
nessee  had  also  fulfilled,  nobly  and  well,  their  part ;  had  decoyed 
General  Hood  to  Nashville,  and  then  turned  on  him,  defeating  his 
army  thoroughly,  capturing  all  his  artillery,  great  numbers  of 
prisoners,  and  were  still  pursuing  the  fragments  down  into  Ala 
bama.  So  complete  a  success  in  military  operations,  extending 
over  half  a  continent,  is  an  achievement  that  entitles  it  to  a  place 
in  the  military  history  of  the  world. 

The  armies  serving  in  Georgia  and  Tennessee,  as  well  as  the 
local  garrisons  of  Decatur,  Bridgeport,  Chattanooga  and  Murfrees- 
boro,  are  alike  entitled  to  the  common  honor,  and  each  regi 
ment  may  inscribe  on  its  colors  at  pleasure  the  words  "Savannah" 
or  "Nashville." 

The  general  commanding  embraces  in  the  same  general  success 
the  operations  of  the  cavalry  column,  under  Generals  Stoneman, 
Burbridge  and  Gillem,  that  penetrated  into  Southwestern  Vir 
ginia,  and  paralyzed  the  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  disturb  the 
peace  and  safety  of  the  people  of  East  Tennessee.  Instead  of 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  353 

being  put  on  the  defensive,  we  have,  at  all  times,  assumed  the 
bold  offensive,  and  completely  thwarted  the  designs  of  the  enemies 
of  our  country.  By  order  of 

Major  General  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 
L.  W.  DAYTON,  Aide-de  Camp. 

REGULATIONS  BY  GENERAL  SHERMAN. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  1 
IN  THE  FIELD,  SAVANNAH,  Ga.,  January  14.      / 

It  being  represented  that  the  Confederate  army  and  armed 
bands  of  robbers,  acting  professedly  under  the  authority  of  the 
Confederate  government,  are  harassing  the  people  of  Georgia, 
and  endeavoring  to  intimidate  them  in  the  efforts  they  are  making 
to  secure  to  themselves  provisions,  clothing,  security  to  life  and 
property,  and  the  restoration  of  law  and  good  government  in  the 
State,  it  is  hereby  ordered  and  made  public : 

First.  That  the  farmers  of  Georgia  may  bring  into  Savannah, 
Fernandina  or  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  marketing,  such  as  beef,  pork, 
mutton,  vegetables  of  any  kind,  fish,  &c.,  as  well  as  cotton  in 
small  quantities,  and  sell  the  same  in  open  market,  except  the 
cotton,  which  must  be  sold  by  or  through  the  Treasury  agents, 
and  may  invest  the  proceeds  in  family  stores,  such  as  bacon  and 
flour,  in  any  reasonable  quantities,  groceries,  shoes  and  clothing, 
and  articles  not  contraband  of  war,  and  carry  the  same  back  to 
their  families.  No  trade  store  will  be  attempted  in  the  interior, 
or  stocks  of  goods  sold  for  them,  but  families  may  club  together 
for  mutual  assistance  and  protection  in  coming  and  going. 

Second.   The  people  are  encouraged  to  meet  together  in  peace-S 
ful  assemblages  to  discuss  measures  looking  to  their  safety  and  ] 
good  government,   and   the  restoration   of  State   and  National/ 
authority,  and  will  be  protected  by  the  National  Army,  when  so; 
doing  ;  and  all  peaceable  inhabitants  who  satisfy  the  commanding'1 
officers  that  they  are  earnestly  laboring   to  that  end  must  not 
only  be  left  undisturbed  in  property  and  person,  but  must  be 


354 

protected  as  far  as  possible  consistent  with  the  military  opera 
tions.  If  any  farmer  or  peaceable  inhabitant  is  molested  by  the 
enemy — viz  :  the  Confederate  army  of  guerrillas — because  of 
his  friendship  to  the  National  Government,  the  perpetrator,  if 
caught,  will  be  summarily  punished,  or  his  family  made  to  suffer 
for  the  outrage;  bufc  if  the  crime  cannot  be  traced  to  the  actual 
party,  then  retaliation  will  be  made  on  the  adherents  to  the 
cause  of  the  rebellion.  Should  a  Union  man  be  murdered,  then 
a  rebel  selected  by  lot  will  be  shot :  or  if  a  Union  family  be  per 
secuted  on  account  of  the  cause,  a  rebel  family  will  be  banished 
to  a  foreign  land.  In  aggravated  cases,  retaliation  will  extend  as 
high  as  five  for  one.  All  commanding  officers  will  act  promptly 
in  such  cases,  and  report  their  action  after  the  retaliation  ie 
done.  By  order  of 

Major  General  W.  T.' SHERMAN. 

L.  W.  DAYTON,  Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

RECEPTION    OF   THE   UNION  ARMY. 

Beyond  all  question,  the  Union  army  has  been 
more  cordially  received  in  Savannah  than  in  any 
other  place  which  has  fallen  into  our  hands. 

The  city  contains  about  25,000  inhabitants. 
Several  thousand  refugees  are  at  present  residing 
there.  A  large  class  of  the  population  will  be 
entirely  dependent  upon  the  Federal  authorities  for 
food,  and  doubtless  until  some  plan  of  caring  for 
them  can  be  set  in  operation,  considerable  suffer 
ing  will  occur.  A  few  days,  however,  will  suffice 
to  bring  up  all  needed  supplies  both  for  the  army 
and  any  civilians  whom  the  authorities  may  see  fit 
to  aid. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  355 

• 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  CITY. 

Savannah,  as  all  readers  know,  is  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river  bearing  its  name,  and  eighteen 
miles  from  the  sea.  The  general  level  of  the  city 
is  some  forty-five  feet  above  the  water.  It  is  regu 
larly  laid  out,  the  streets  are  very  broad  and  hand 
somely  shaded,  while  the  extensive  private  yards, 
and  the  great  number  of  parks  and  public  squares, 
give  to  the  place  the  aspect  of  an  infinite  succession 
of  suburban  residences.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  cities  in  the  country.  A  tropical  air  is 
thrown  over  it  all  by  the  character  of  the  trees, 
flowers  and  shrubs.  Few  trees  are  selected  for  the 
streets  and  yards  that  are  not  evergreen,  and  flow 
ers  in  endless  variety  greeted  our  Northern  boys. 
Live  oaks,  magnolias,  orange  and  bay  trees  are  to 
be  seen  everywhere.  In  some  of  the  streets  four 
rows  of  trees  are  planted,  forming  leaf-arched  ave 
nues  across  the  entire  city,  two  for  carriages  on 
each  side  of  the  way,  and  a  splendid  promenade  in 
the  centre.  Many  of  these  are  huge  forest  trees, 
while  all  are  large,  and  the  effect  is  most  impres 
sive.  There  are  many  very  elegant  public  build 
ings,  and  there  is  little  of  that  decayed  look  which 
the  war  has  brought  over  most  of  the  Southern 
cities. 

Among  the  finest  public  buildings  are  the  Cus 
tom  House  and  the  Exchange,  the  Armory  and 


856  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

State  Arsenal,  St.  John's  and  the  Independent 
Presbyterian  Churches.  There  is  a  large  and 
valuable  collection  of  works  in  the  State  Historical 
Society,  and  the  same  is  true  of  the  Public  Library. 

REVOLUTIONARY  REMAINS. 

These  are  numerous,  and  excite  strange  emo 
tions.  An  elegant  monument  stands  in  Chippewa 
Square,  erected  to  the  memory  of  Pulaski,  who  fell 
in  the  attack  upon  the  city,  when  it  was  held  by  the 
British  in  1779. 

In  Monument  Square  there  is  a  beautiful  Doric 
obelisk  designed  to  commemorate  the  deeds  of 
Greene  and  Pulaski.  General  Lafayette  laid  the 
corner  stone  of  this  structure  in  1825.  The  base 
of  the  pedestal  is  ten  feet  by  seven,  and  about 
twelve  feet  high.  The  shaft  surmounting  this  is 
about  forty  feet  high. 

Mounds  and  ditches  still  remain  near  the  swamp 
southeast  of  the  city,  and  a  fort  built  by  General 
Greene  can  still  be  traced.  TatnalPs  tomb  is  in 
the  cemetery  of  Bonaventure,  and  many  of  the  sol 
diers  of  that  olden  time  are  mouldering  there 
with  him.  If  such  ground  could  be  cursed,  how 
deep  the  stain  which  would  rest  upon  it  from  all 
the  traitor  graves  which  now  mar  the  beauty  of 
the  spot !  Sleeping  side  by  side  are  those  who  bled 
to  establish  our  Government,  and  those  who  have 
died  seeking  its  overthrow.  Yet  the  flag  that 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  857 

waved  over  those  old  forts  when  the  nation's  life 
began,  floats  above  them  again,  the  earnest  of  a 
nobler  life,  dawning  even  now.  The  flag  that 
Greene  loved,  and  which  Pulaski  looked  upon 
while  dying,  and  which  floated  over  Tatnall's 
ships,  Sherman's  men,  from  their  far  off  Western 
homes,  have  borne  across  a  continent  and  set  it  up 
again  on  the  fields  of  its  old  renown.  It  shall 
wave  there  long  after  traitors  have  received  their 
merited  reward  of  infamy. 

BONAVENTUBE. 

This  cemetery,  situated  near  Fort  Jackson,  is  a 
most  wonderful  spot.  Originally  it  was  a  private 
estate,  laid  out  with  great  taste,  and  well  stocked 
with  shade  trees  and  ornamental  shrubs.  These 
trees  now  form  shaded  avenues  miles  in  extent, 
and  hung,  as  they  are,  so  thickly  with  the  long 
gray  moss,  they  look  as  if 

"Eternity  had  snowed  its  years  upon  them, 
And  the  white  winter  of  their  age  had  come." 

Yet  through  these  marks  of  age  the  greenness 
of  perpetual  spring  smiles  constantly,  even  as  the 
glory  of  the  Eesurrection  outshines  the  dimness  of 
the  graves  of  the  sleepers  below.  There  are  walks 
here  that  remind  one  of  the  Bosphorus,  with  its 
cypress  and  its  gloom.  There  are  bright  groves 
of  orange  and  bay,  brilliant  flowers  and  birds  of 


358  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

golden  plumage  and  sweet  song.  The  far-off  mur 
mur  of  the  sea  is  ever  faintly  heard ;  birds  do  not 
cea'se  to  sing  or  flowers  to  bloom.  Here  nature 
never  dies,  and  were  it  not  for  man's  decay  we 
might  almost  imagine  that  our  footsteps  were 
leading  us  over  the  beautiful  walks  of  Paradise. 

GENERAL  SHERMAN  AND  THE  BRITISH  CONSUL  AT 
SAVANNAH. 

[Washington  Correspondence  of  the  New  York  Herald.] 

On  the  arrival  of  General  Sherman  at  Savannah, 
he  saw  a  large  number  of  British  flags  displayed 
from  buildings,  and  had  ^  curiosity  to  ki^ow  how 
many  British  consuls  there  were  there.  He  soon 
ascertained  that  these  flags  were  on  buildings 
where  cotton  had  been  stored  away,  and  at  once 
ordered  it  to  be  seized.  £Soon  after  that,^vhile  the 
general  was  busily  engaged  at  his  head-quarters/^a 
pompous  gentleman  walked  in,  apparently  in  great 
haste,  and  inquired  if  he  was  General  Sherman? 
Having  received  an  affirmative  reply,  the  pompous 
gentleman  remarked,  "  that  when  he  left  his  resi 
dence  the  United  States  troops  were  engaged  in 
removing  his  cotton  from  it,  where  it  was  protected 
by  the  British  flag." 

"  Stop,  sir,"  said  General  Sherman  ;  "  not  your 
cotton,  sir,  but  my  cotton ;  my  cotton  in  the  name 
of  the  United  States  Government,  sir.  I  have 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  359 

noticed,"  continued  General  Sherman,  "  a  great 
many  British  flags  here,  all  protecting  cotton.  I 
have  seized  it  all  in  the  name  of  my  Government." 

"  But  sir/'  said  the  consul,  indignantly,  "  there 
'  is  scarcely  any  cotton  in  Savannah  that  does  not 
belong  to  me." 

"  There  is  not  a  pound  of  cotton  here,  sir,  that 
does  not  belong  to  me,  for  the  United  States," 
responded  Sherman. 

""Well,  sir,"  said  the  consul,  swelling  himself 
np  with  the  dignity  of  his  office,  and  reddening  in 
his  face,  "my  Government  shall  hear  of  this.  I 
shall  report  your  conduct  to  my  Government,  sir." 

"Ah  !  pray,  who  are  you,  sir  ? "  said  the  general. 

"  Consul  to  Her  British  Majesty,  sir." 

"  Oh!  indeed  !"  responded  the  general.  "I  hope 
you  will  report  me  to  your  Government.  You  will 
please  say  to  your  Government,  for  me,  that  I  have 
been  fighting  the  English  Government  all  the  way 
from  the  Ohio  River  to  Vicksburg,  and  thence  to 
this  point.  At  every  step  I  have  encountered 
British  arms,  and  British  goods  of  every  descrip 
tion,  at  every  step,  sir.  I  have  met  them,  sir,  in  all 
shapes ;  and  now,  sir,  I  find  you  claiming  all  the 
cotton,  sir.  I  intend  to  call  upon  my  Government 
to  order  me  to  Nassau  at  once." 

"What  do  you  propose  to  do  there  ?"  asked  the 
Consul,  somewhat  taken  aback. 


860  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEKMAN, 

"  I  would,"  replied  the  general,  "  take  with  me 
a  quantity  of  picks  and  shovels,  and  throw  that 
cursed  sand  hill  into  the  sea,  sir.  You  may  tell 
your  Government  that,  sir.  I  would  shovel  it  into 
the  sea,  sir;  and  then  I  would  pay  for  it,  sir — if 
necessary.  Good  day,  sir." 

It  is  needless  to  add  that  General  Sherman  was 
not  again  troubled  with  the  officious  representative 
of  Her  Majesty's  Government. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

SHERMAN'S  CAMPAIGN  IN  THE  CAROLINAS. 

THE  CONSUMMATION  OF    THE    GREAT    PLAN  —  MOVEMENTS 
OF  THE  TWO  WINGS  OF  THE  ARMY  UNDER  HOWARD  AND 

SLOCUM TRANSFER  OF    THE    FORTS    AND  CITY  TO  GEN. 

FOSTER CAPTURE    OF    FORT    FISHER    BY    PORTER    AND 

TERRY DETERMINATION  OF  SHERMAN STRATEGY  AT 

THE  SALKEHATCHIE WADING    THROUGH  DEEP  WATER 

—  PURSUIT    OF     THE     ENEMY     TO     BRANCHVILLE DE 
STRUCTION    OF     THE    RAILROAD OFFICIAL    REPORT     OF 

SHERMAN RESULT      OF      THE      CAMPAIGN FALL      OF 

CHARLESTON HORRORS     OF      THE      EVACUATION IN 
CIDENTS. 

This  campaign  may  be  called  the  climax  of  this 
colossal  war.  Heretofore  we  have  spoken  of  the 
campaigns  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  and  from 
Atlanta  to  Savannah.  The  truth  is,  they  were  but 
parts  of  one  great  whole.  The  movement  of  Sher 
man,  which  commenced  on  the  1st  day  of  May, 

1864,  and  ended  with  the  surrender  of  Johnston's 
army  and  all  the  Confederate  forces  from  the  Chat- 
tahoochee  to  the  Potomac  on  the  26th  day  of  April, 

1865,  extending  through  almost  an  entire  year,  was 
but  one  campaign ;  was  but  the  carrying  out  of 

E* 


362  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

the  plan  of  Sherman  when  he  marched  from  Chat- 
tanooga;  a  campaign  that  has  no  parallel  in  the 
annals  of  history. 

And  now,  in  leading  the  reader  through  the  final 
part  of  this  most  wonderful  campaign,  we  can  do 
nothing  more  than  give  to  him  its  great  outlines. 
In  doing  this,  and  for  the  sake  of  recording  nothing 
but  veritable  history,  we  will  follow  somewhat 
closely  the  official  report  of  General  Sherman, 
adding  to  parts  of  it  interesting  details  and 
incidents  therein  omitted. 

Less  than  one  month  was  consumed  at  Savannah 
in  making  proper  dispositions  of  captured  property 
and  other  local  matters,  and  in  preparations  for  the 
march  North  through  the  "  sacred  soil  of  South 
Carolina." 

By  the  15th  of  January,  1865,  Sherman  and  his 
splendid  army  were  ready  for  the  march.  Pre 
liminary  to  this,  General  Howard,  commanding  the 
right  wing,  was  ordered  to  embark  his  forces  at 
Thunderbolt;  transport  them  to  Beaufort,  and 
thence  by  the  15th  of  January,  make  a  lodgment 
on  the  Charleston  Railroad  at  Pocotaligo.  This 
was  accomplished  punctually,  at  little  cost,  by  the 
Seventeenth  Corps,  Major-General  Blair,  and  a 
depot  for  supplies  was  established  near  the  mouth 
of  Pocotaligo  Creek,  with  easy  water  communica 
tions  back  to  Hilton  Head.  As  our  troops  ad 
vanced  toward  the  Charleston  Railroad  they  met 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  363 

the  enemy,  who  fell  back  after  a  short  skirmish. 
The  next  day  an  attempt  was  made  to  flank  the 
enemy's  position,  but  they  hastily  evacuated  their 
works,  leaving  three  guns  behind  them.  This  po 
sition  was  gained  with  the  loss  of  about  ten  men 
killed  and  wounded.  The  attempt  of  General 
Foster  to  carry  this  same  position  about  a  month 
previously,  cost  him  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  men. 

THE  LEFT  WING. 

The  left  wing,  commanded  by  Major-G-eneral 
Slocum,  and  the  cavalry  commanded  by  Major- 
General  Kilpatrick,  were  ordered,  in  the  meantime, 
to  rendezvous  near  Robertsville  and  Coosawachie, 
South  Carolina,  with  a  depot  of  supplies  at  Pu- 
reysburg,  or  Sister's  Ferry,  on  the  Savannah  River. 
General  Slocum  had  a  good  pontoon  bridge  con 
structed  opposite  the  city,  and  the  "Union  Cause 
way,"  leading  through  the  low  rice  fields  opposite 
Savannah  was  repaired  and  corduroyed,  but  before 
the  time  appointed  to  start  the  heavy  rains  of  Jan 
uary  had  swollen  the  river,  broken  the  pontoon 
bridge  and  overflooded  the  whole  bottom  so  that 
the  causeway  was  four  feet  under  water,  and 
Slocum  was  compelled  to  look  higher  up  for  a 
passage  over  the  Savannah  River.  He  moved  up 
to  Sister's  Ferry,  but  even  there  the  river,  with  its 
overflowed  bottoms  was  nearly  three  miles  wide,  so 


364  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

that  he  did  not  succeed  in  getting  his  whole  wing 
across  until  the  first  week  in  February. 

In  the  meantime,  General  Grant  had  sent  to  Sher 
man,  Grover's  Division  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps, 
to  garrison  Savannah,  and  had  drawn  the  Twenty- 
third  Corps,  Major-General  Schofield's  command, 
from  Tennessee  and  sent  it  to  reenforce  the  com 
mands  of  Major-Generals  Terry  and  Palmer,  ope 
rating  on  the  coast  of  ISTorth  Carolina,  to  prepare 
the  way  for  the  march  of  Sherman. 

On  the  18th  of  January,  Sherman  transferred 
the  forts  and  city  of  Savannah  to  Major-Geiieral 
Foster,  commanding  the  Department  of  the  South. 
Sherman  then  imparted  to  Foster  his  plans  of  ope 
ration  and  instructed  him  how  to  follow  his  move 
ments  inland  by  occupying,  in  succession,  the  city 
of  Charleston  and  such  other  points  along  the  sea- 
coast  as  would  be  of  any  value  to  us. 

The  combined  naval  and  land  forces  under  Ad 
miral  Porter  and  General  Terry  had,  on  the  16th 
of  January,  captured  Fort  Fisher  and  the  Rebel 
forts  at  the  mouth  of  Cape  Fear  River,  and  thus 
gave  to  Sherman  another  point  of  security  on  the 
sea-coast. 

Sherman  had  already  resolved,  in  his  own  mind, 
and  had  advised  General  Grant  that  he  would  un 
dertake,  "  at  one  stride,"  to  make  Goldsboro,  and 
open  communications  with  the  sea  by  the  Newbern 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  365 

Railroad.  He  ordered  Colonel  "W.  "W.  Wright, 
Superintendent  of  Military  Railroads  to  proceed, 
in  advance  to  Newbern,  and  to  be  prepared  to  ex 
tend  the  railroad  out  from  Newbern  to  Goldsboro 
by  the  15th  of  March.  On  the  19th  of  January, 
all  preparations  were  finished  and  the  orders  for 
the  march  given.  The  Chief  Quartermaster  and 
Commissary,  Generals  Easton  and  Beckwith,  were 
ordered  to  complete  the  supplies  at  Sister's  Ferry 
and  Pocotaligo,  and  then  follow  the  movements  of 
the  army  coastwise,  looking  for  its  arrival  at 
Goldsboro,  North  Carolina,  about  the  15th  of 
March,  where  they  were  to  open  communications 
with  Sherman  from  Morehead  City. 

On  the  22d  of  January,  General  Sherman  in  per 
son,  embarked  at  Savannah  for  Hilton  Head,  where 
he  held  a  conference  with  Admiral  Dahlgren  of 
the  United  States  Navy,  and  Major-General  Foster 
commanding  the  Department  of  the  South,  and  the 
next  day  proceeded  to  Beaufort,  riding  out  thence 
on  the  24th  to  Pocotaligo,  where  the  Seventeenth 
Corps,  Major-General  Blair  was  encamped.  At 
that  time  the  Fifteenth  Corps  was  somewhat  scat 
tered.  "Wood's  and  Hazen's  divisions  were  at 
Beaufort.  John  E.  Smith's  was  marching  from 
Savannah  by  the  coastward,  and  Corse  was  still  at 
Savannah,  cut  off  by  storms  and  the  freshet  in  the 
river. 


366 

On  the  25th  a  demonstration  was  made  against 
the  Combahee  Ferry  and  the  Railroad  Bridge 
across  the  Salkehatchie,  merely  to  amuse  the 
enemy,  who  had  evidently  adopted  that  river  as  his 
defensive  line  against  our  supposed  objective  point, 
the  City  of  Charleston.  General  Sherman  recon- 
noitered  the  line  in  person,  and  saw  that  the  heavy 
rains  had  swollen  the  river  so  that  water  stood  in 
the  swamps  for  a  breadth  of  more  than  one  mile, 
at  a  depth  of  from  one  to  twenty  feet.  Not  having 
the  remotest  intention  of  approaching  Charleston, 
a  comparatively  small  force  was  able,  by  seeming 
preparations  to  cross  over,  to  keep  in  their  front  a 
considerable  force  of  the  enemy  who  seemed 
disposed  to  contest  our  supposed  advance  on 
Charleston. 

On  the  27th,  General  Sherman  rode  to  the  camp 
of  General  Hatch's  division  of  Foster's  command, 
on  the  Tullafuiney  and  Coosawatchie  Rivers  and 
directed  those  places  to  be  evacuated,  as  no  longer 
of  any  use  to  us.  That  division  was  then  moved 
to  Pocotaligo  to  keep  up  the  feints  already  begun, 
until  we  should,  with  the  right  wing,  move  higher 
up  and  cross  the  Salkehatchie  about  River's  or 
Broxton's  Bridge. 

On  the  29th  Sherman  learned  that  the  roads  back 
of  Savannah  had  at  last  become  sufficiently  clear 
of  the  flood  to  admit  of  General  Slocum  putting 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  367 

his  wing  in  motion,  and  that  ho  was  already  ap 
proaching  Sister's  Ferry,  whither  a  gun-boat,  the 
Pontiac,  Captain  Luce,  kindly  furnished  by  Ad 
miral  Dalilgren,  had  preceded  him  to  cover  the 
crossing.  In  the  meantime,  three  divisions  of  the 
Fifteenth  Corps  had  closed  up  at  Pocotaligo,  and 
the  right  wing  had  loaded  its  wagons  and  was  ready 
to  start.  Sherman,  therefore,  directed  General 
Howard  to  move  one  corps,  the  Seventeenth,  along 
the  Salkehatchie  as  high  up  as  Elver's  Bridge,  and 
the  other,  the  Fifteenth,  by  Hickory  Hill,  Bosser's 
Cross-Roads,  Anglesey  Post  Office  and  Beaufort's 
Bridge.  Hatch's  division  was  ordered  to  remain 
at  Pocotaligo,  feinting  at  the  Salkehatchie  Rail 
road  Bridge  and  Ferry  until  our  movement  turned 
the  enemy's  position  and  forced  him  to  fall  behind 
the  Edisto. 

The  Seventeenth  and  Fifteenth  Corps  drew  out 
of  camp  on  the  31st  of  January,  but  the  real  march 
began  on  the  1st  of  February.  All  the  roads 
northward  had  for  weeks  been  held  by  "Wheeler's 
cavalry  who  had,  by  details  of  negro  laborers,  felled 
trees,  burned  bridges  and  made  obstructions  to  im 
pede  our  march.  But  so  well  organized  were  the 
pioneer  battalions  and  so  strong  and  intelligent 
our  men,  that  obstructions  seemed  only  to  quicken 
their  progress.  Felled  trees  were  removed,  and 
bridges  rebuilt  by  the  heads  of  columns  before  the 


368 

rear  could  close  up.  On  the  2d  of  February  the 
15th  Corps  reached  Toper's  Cross  Roads,  and  the 
Seventeenth  was  at  Elver's  Bridge.  From  Toper's 
Cross  Roads  Sherman  communicated  with  General 
Slocum,  still  struggling  with  the  floods  of  the  Sa 
vannah  River  at  Sister's  Ferry.  He  had  two  divi 
sions  of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  General  Williams, 
on  the  east  bank,  and  was  enabled  to  cross  over  on 
his  pontoons  the  cavalry  of  Kilpatrick.  General 
Williams  was  ordered  to  Beaufort  Bridge,  by  way 
of  Lawtonville  and  Allendale,  Kilpatrick  to  Black- 
ville,  by  way  of  Barnwell,  and  General  Slocum  was 
ordered  to  hurry  the  crossing  at  Sister's  Ferry  as 
much  as  possible,  and  overtake  the  right  wing  on 
the  South  Carolina  Railroad.  General  Howard, 
with  the  right  wing,  was  directed  to  cross  the  Sal- 
kehatchie  and  push  rapidly  for  the  South  Carolina 
Railroad,  at  or  near  Midway.  The  enemy  held  the 
line  of  the  Salkehatchie  in  force,  having  infantry 
and  artillery  intrenched  at  River's  and  Beaufort's 
bridges.  The  Seventeenth  Corps  was  ordered  to 
carry  River's  Bridge,  and  the  Fifteenth  Corps 
Beaufort's  Bridge.  The  former  position  was  car 
ried  promptly  and  skilfully  by  Mower's  and  Giles 
A.  Smith's  divisions  of  the  Seventeenth  Corps,  on 
the  3d  of  February,  by  crossing  the  swamp,  nearly 
three  miles  wide,  with  water  varying  from  knee 
deep  to  shoulder  deep.  The  weather  was  bitter 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  369 

cold,  and  Generals  Mower  and  Smith  led  their 
divisions  in  person,  on  foot,  waded  the  swamps, 
made  a  lodgment  below  the  bridge,  and  turned  on 
the  rebel  brigade  which  guarded  it,  driving  it  in 
disorder  and  confusion  towards  Brarichville.  Our 
casualties  were  one  officer  and  seventeen  men 
killed,  and  seventy  wounded,  who  were  sent  to 
Pocotaligo. 

For  this  success  great  credit  should  be  given  to 
Generals  Mower  and  Smith,  who  promptly  carried 
out  General  Sherman's  orders  in  the  face  of  great 
difficulties.  To  march  a  whole  day,  and  that,  too, 
a  bitter,  cold  day  in  mid-winter,  through  water  up 
to  the  arm-pits  in  places,  required  endurance,  such 
as  none  but  brave  and  true  soldiers  could  or  would 
endure.  Such  men  cannot  well  fail  of  success. 

A  correspondent,  who  examined  the  position 
abandonded  by  the  enemy,  speaks  of  it  as  follows : 

"FEBRUARY  5. 

"  I  have  examined  the  works  at  Beaufort  Bridge 
to-day,  which  were  evacuated  by  the  rebels  as  soon 
as  we  made  the  crossing  at  River's  Bridge.  It  is 
a  place  of  remarkable  strength,  both  in  its  natural 
advantages  and  the  strong  line  of  works  which  de 
fend  the  passage.  A  brigade  with  a  single  section 
of  artillery  could  have  held  an  army  at  bay.  So  it 
would  seem,  at  least,  when  one  wades  and  stum 
bles  over  the  narrow  road  which  leads  for  half  a 


370 

mile  through  the  swamp.  When  you  come  out  of 
the  dense  jungle,  and  before  crossing  the  main 
branch  of  the  stream,  you  see  before  you,  upon  its 
border,  a  line  of  well-built  works  extending  for  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  on  either  side.  Here  are  three 
embrasures,  which  were  pierced  for  heavy  guns, 
while  the  parapet  is  surmounted  by  the  protecting 
head-log.  If  the  enemy  had  not  been  flanked  be 
low,  and  could  have  held  this  place,  it  would  have 
cost  us  hundreds  of  lives.  As  it  is,  we  gained  the 
peninsula  formed  by  the  Salkehatchie  and  Edisto 
Rivers.  We  have  the  choice  of  going  to  Augusta 
or  Charleston.  The  latter  place  we  can  capture 
with  less  trouble  than  Savannah  gave  us,  supposing 
we  made  a  direct  attack,  for  we  can  make  an  ex 
cellent  base  at  Bull's  Bay.  I  know  that  the  general 
expects  to  capture  Charleston  by  operating  a  hun 
dred  miles  away  from  its  walls — a  strategy  which 
has  not  always  been  practised  in  this  war. 

"  General  Williams  is  up  with  two  of  the  divi 
sions  of  the  Twentieth  Corps.  Kilpatrick  and  his 
cavalry  are  at  Allan  dale,  and  the  balance  of  the 
left  wing  have  crossed  the  Savannah.  The  army 
here  has  made  a  short  move  to-day,  and  we  are 
within  a  single  day's  march  of  the  Charleston  and 
Augusta  Railroad.  We  hear  that  the  rebels  intend 
defending  it  at  several  points,  but  they  cannot 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  371 

protect  the  whole  line,  and  we  will  flank   them 
somewhere." 

After  the  line  of  the  enemy  on  the  Salkehatchie 
was  broken,  they  retreated  hastily  behind  the  Edisto 
River,  at  Branchville,  and  our  whole  army  was 
pushed  rapidly  to  the  South  Carolina  Railroad,  at 
Midway,  Bamberg,  or  Lowry's  Station  and  Gra 
ham's  Station.  The  Seventeenth  Corps,  by  threat 
ening  Branchville,  forced  the  enemy  to  burn  the 
railroad  bridge,  and  Walker's  Bridge  below,  across 
the  Edisto.  All  nands  were  at  once  set  to  work  to 
destroy  the  railroad  track.  From  the  7th  to  the 
10th  of  February  this  work  was  thoroughly  prose 
cuted  by  the  Seventeenth1  Corps,  from  Edisto  up  to 
Bamberg,  and  by  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  from  Bam 
berg  up  to  Blackville.  In  the  meantime  General 
Kilpatrick  had  brought  his  cavalry  rapidly  by  Barn- 
well  to  Blackville,  and  had  turned  toward  Aiken, 
with  orders  to  threaten  Augusta,  but  not  to  be 
drawn  needlessly  into  serious  battle.  This  he 
skilfully  accomplished,  skirmishing  heavily  with 
"Wheeler's  cavalry,  first  at  Blackville,  and  after 
wards  at  Williston  and  Aiken.  General  Williams, 
with  two  divisions  of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  marched 
to  the  South  Carolina  Eailroad,  at  Graham's  Sta 
tion,  on  the  8th,  and  General  Slocum  arrived  at 
Blackville  on  the  12th  of  the  month.  The  destruc 
tion  of  the  railroad  was  continued  by  the  left  wing 


372 

from  Blackville  up  to  Windsor.  By  the  llth  of 
February  all  the  army  was  011  the  railroad  from 
Midway  to  Johnson's  Station,  thereby  dividing  the 
enemy's  forces,  which  still  remained  at  Branchville 
and  Charleston  on  the  one  hand,  and  at  Aiken  and 
Augusta  on  the  other. 

For  a  clear  and  satisfactory  account  of  the  rest 
of  the  campaign,  we  refer  to  the  official  report  of 
General  Sherman,  which  we  here  insert  word  for 
word : 

GENERAL  SHERMAN'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT. 

We  then  began  the  movement  on  Orangeburg.  The  Seventeenth 
Corps  crossed  the  south  fork  of  the  Edisto  River  at  Binnaker's 
Bridge,  and  moved  straight  for  Orangeburg,  while  the  Fifteenth 
Corps  crossed  at  Holman's  Bridge,  and  moved  to  Poplar  Springs 
in  support.  The  left  wing  and  cavalry  were  still  at  work  on  the 
railroad,  with  orders  to  cross  the  South  Edisto  at  New  and  Guig- 
nard's  Bridges,  move  to  the  Orangeburg  and  Edgefield  Road,  and 
there  await  the  result  of  the  attack  on  Orangeburg.  On  the  12th 
the  Seventeenth  Corps  found  the  enemy  intrenched  in  front  of  the 
Orangeburg  Bridge,  but  swept  him  away  by  a  dash,  and  followed 
him,  forcing  him  across  the  bridge,  which  was  partially  burned. 
Behind  the  bridge  was  a  battery  in  position,  covered  by  a  cotton 
and  earth  parapet,  with  wings  as  far  as  could  be  seen.  General 
Blair  held  one  division  (Giles  A.  Smith's)  close  up  to  the  Edisto, 
and  moved  the  other  two  to  a  point  about  two  miles  below,  where 
he  crossed  Force's  division  by  a  pontoon  bridge,  holding  Mower's 
in  support.  As  soon  as  Force  emerged  from  the  swamp,  the 
enemy  gave  ground,  and  Giles  A.  Smith's  division  gained  the 
bridge,  crossed  over,  and  occupied  the  enemy's  parapet.  He  soon 
repaired  the  bridge,  and  by  four  in  the  afternoon  the  whole  corps 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  373 

was  in  Orangeburg,  and  had  begun  the  Avork  of  destruction  on 
the  railroad.  Blair  was  ordered  to  destroy  this  railroad  effectu 
ally  up  to  Lewisville,  and  to  push  the  enemy  across  the  Congaree, 
and  force  him  to  burn  the  bridges,  which  he  did  on  the  14th ; 
and  without  wasting  time  or  labor  on  Branchville  or  Charleston, 
which  1  knew  the  enemy  could  no  longer  hold,  I  turned  all  the 
columns  straight  on  Columbia.  The  Seventeenth  Corps  followed 
the  State  Road,  and  the  Fifteenth  Corps  crossed  the  North  Edisto 
from  Poplar  Springs,  at  Schilling's  Bridge,  above  the  mouth  of 
"Cawcaw  Swamp"  Creek,  and  took  a  country  road,  which  came 
into  the  State  Road  at  Zeigtor's.  On  the  15th  the  Fifteenth 
Corps  found  the  enemy  in  a  strong  position  at  Little  Congaree 
Bridge  (across  Congaree  Creek),  with  a  tele-de-ponl  on  the  south 
side,  and  a  well  constructed  fort  on  the  north  side,  commanding 
the  bridge  with  artillery.  The  ground  in  front  was  very  bad, 
level  and  clear,  with  a  fresh  deposit  of  mud  from  a  recent  over 
flow.  General  Charles  R.  Woods,  who  commanded  the  leading 
division,  succeeded,  however,  in  .turning  the  flank  of  the  tete-de- 
pont  by  sending  Stone's  brigade  through  a  cypress  swamp  to  the 
left ;  and,  following  up  the  retreating  enemy  promptly,  he  got 
possession  of  the  bridge  and  fort  beyond.  The  bridge  had  been 
partially  damaged  by  fire,  and  ha  :1  to  be  repaired  for  the  passage 
of  artillery,  so  that  night  clos*:-i  in  before  the  head  of  the  column 
could  reach  the  bridge  across  the  Congaree  River,  in  front  of 
Columbia.  That  night  t.ie  enemy  shelled  our  camps  from  a  bat 
tery  on  the  east  side  of  the  Congaree,  above  Granby.  Early  next 
morning  (February  10),  the  head  of  the  column  reached  the 
bank  of  the  Congaree,  opposite  Columbia,  but  too  late  to  save  the 
fine  bridge  which  spanned  the  river  at  that  point.  It  was  burned 
by  the  enemy.  While  waiting  for  the  pontoons  to  come  to  the 
front,  we  could  see  the  people  running  about  the  streets  of  Co 
lumbia,  and  occasionally  small  bodies  of  cavalry,  but  no  masses. 
A  single  gun  of  Captain  De  Grass'  battery  was  firing  at  their 
cavalry  squads,  but  I  checked  his  firing,  limiting  him  to  a  few 
p* 


374  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

shots  at  the  unfinished  State  House  walls,  and  a  few  shells  at  the 
railroad  depot,  to  scatter  the  people  who  were  seen  carrying 
away  sacks  of  corn  and  meal  that  we  needed.  There  was  no 
white  flag  or  manifestations  of  surrender.  I  directed  General 
Howard  not  to  cross  directly  in  front  of  Columbia,  but  to  cross 
the  Saluda  at  the  Factory,  three  miles  above,  and  afterward 
Broad  River,  so  as  to  approach  Columbia  from  the  north.  Within 
an  hour  of  the  arrival  of  General  Howard's  head  of  column  at 
the  river  opposite  Columbia,  the  head  of  column  of  the  left  wing 
also  appeared,  and  I  directed  General  Slocum  to  cross  the  Saluda 
at  Zion  Church,  and  thence  to  take  roads  direct  for  Winnsboro, 
breaking  up  en  route  the  railroads  and  bridges  about  Alston. 

Colonel  Howard  effected  a  crossing  of  the  Saluda  near  the  Fac 
tory  on  the  16th,  skirmishing  with  cavalry,  and  the  same  night 
made  a  flying  bridge  across  Broad  River,  about  three  miles  above 
Columbia,  by  which  he  crossed  over  Stone's  brigade,  of  Wood's 
division,  Fifteenth  Corps.  Under  cover  of  this  brigade,  a  pontoon 
bridge  was  laid  on  the  morning  of  the  17th.  I  was  in  person  at 
this  bridge,  and  at  11  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  learned  that  the 
Mayor  of  Columbia  had  come  out  in  a  carriage  and  made  a  formal 
surrender  of  the  city  to  Colonel  Stone,  Twenty-fifth  Iowa  infantry, 
commanding  Third  brigade,  First  division,  Fifteenth  Corps. 
About  the  same  time  a  small  party  of  the  Seventeenth  Corps  had 
crossed  the  Congaree  in  a  skiff,  and  entered  Columbia  from  a 
point  immediately  west.  In  anticipation  of  the  occupation  of  the 
city,  I  had  made  written  orders  to  General  Howard  touching  the 
conduct  of  the  troops.  These  were  to  destroy  absolutely  all  ar 
senals  and  public  property  not  needed  for  our  own  use,  as  well  as 
all  railroads,  depots  and  machinery  useful  in  war  to  an  enemy, 
but  to  spare  all  dwellings,  colleges,  schools,  asylums  and  harmless 
private  property.  I  was  the  first  to  cross  the  pontoon  bridge, 
and,  in  company  with  General  Howard,  rode  into  the  city.  The 
day  was  clear,  but  a  perfect  tempest  of  wind  was  raging.  The 
brigade  of  Colonel  Stone  was  already  in  the  city,  and  was 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  375 

properly  posted.  Citizens  and  soldiers  were  on  the  streets,  and 
general  good  order  prevailed.  General  Wade  Hampton,  who 
commanded  the  Confederate  rear  guard,  had,  in  anticipation  of 
our  capture  of  Columbia,  ordered  that  all  cotton,  public  and  pri 
vate,  should  be  moved  into  the  streets  and  fired,  to  prevent  our 
making  use  of  it.  Bales  were  piled  everywhere,  the  rope  and 
bagging  cut,  and  tufts  of  cotton  were  blown  about  in  the  wind, 
lodged  in  the  trees  and  against  houses,  so  as  to  resemble  a  snow 
storm.  Some  of  these  piles  of  cotton  were  burning,  especially 
one  in  the  very  heart  of  the  city,  near  the  Court  House,  but  the 
fire  was  partially  subdued  by  the  labor  of  our  soldiers.  During 
the  day  the  Fifteenth  Corps  passed  through  Columbia,  and  out  on 
the  Camden  Road.  The  Seventeenth  did  not  enter  the  town  at 
all ;  and  as  I  have  before  stated,  the  left  wing  and  cavalry  did 
not  come  within  two  miles  of  the  town. 

Before  one  single  public  building  had  been  fired  by  order,  the 
smouldering  fires  set  by  Hampton's  order  were  rekindled  by  the 
wind,  and  communicated  with  the  buildings  around.  About  dark 
they  began  to  spread,  and  got  beyond  the  control  of  the  brigade 
within  the  city.  The  whole  of  Wood's  division  was  brought  in, 
but  it  was  found  impossible  to  check  the  flames,  which,  by  mid 
night,  had  become  unmanageable,  and  raged  until  about  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  when,  the  wind  subsiding,  they  were  got 
under  control.  I  was  up  nearly  all  night,  and  saw  Generals  How 
ard,  Logan,  Wood  and  others  laboring  to  save  houses  and  protect 
families  thus  suddenly  deprived  of  shelter,  and  of  bedding  and 
wearing  apparel.  I  disclaim,  on  the  part  of  my  army,  any  agency 
in  this  fire ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  claim  that  we  saved  what  of 
Columbia  remains  unconsumed.  And,  without  hesitation,  I  charge 
General  Wade  Hampton  with  having  burned  his  own  city  of  Co 
lumbia,  not  with  a  malicious  intent,  or  as  the  manifestation  of  a 
silly  "  Roman  stoicism,"  but  from  folly  and  want  of  sense,  in 
filling  it  with  lint,  cotton  and  tinder.  Our  officers  and  men  on 
duty  worked  well  to  extinguish  the  flames,  but  others  not  on  duty, 


376  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

including  the  officers  who  had  long  been  imprisoned  there,  res 
cued  by  us,  may  have  assisted  in  spreading  the  fire  after  it  had 
once  begun,  and  may  have  indulged  in  unconcealed  joy  to  see  the 
euin  of  the  capital  of  South  Carolina.  During  the  18th  and  19th 
the  arsenal,  railroad  depots,  machine  shops,  foundries  and  other 
ouildings  were  properly  destroyed  by  detailed  working  parties, 
and  the  railroad  track  torn  up  and  destroyed  down  to  Kirigsville 
and  the  Wateree  Bridge,  and  up  in  the  direction  of  Wiunsboro. 
At  the  same  time  the  left  wing  and  cavalry  had  crossed  the 
Saluda.  and  Broad  Rivers,  breaking  up  the  railroad  about  Alston, 
and  as  high  up  as  the  bridge  across  Broad  River  on  the  Spartan- 
burg  Road,  the  main  body  moving  straight  for  Winnsboro,  which 
General  Slocum  reached  on  the  21st  of  February.  He  caused  the 
railroad  to  be  destroyed  up  to  Blackstakes  Depot,  and  then  turned 
to  Rocky  Mount,  on  the  Catawba  River.  The  Twentieth  Corps 
reached  Rocky  Mount  on  the  22d,  laid  a  pontoon  bridge,  and 
crossed  over  during  the  23d.  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  followed,  and 
crossed  over  in  a  terrible  rain  during  the  night  of  the  23d,  and 
moved  up  to  Lancaster,  with  orders  to  keep  up  the  delusion  of  a 
general  movement  on  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  to  which  General  Beaure- 
gard  and  all  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy  had  retreated  from  Co 
lumbia.  I  was  also  aware  that  Cheatham's  corps,  of  Hood's  old 
army,  was  aiming  to  make  a  junction  with  Beauregard  at  Char 
lotte,  having  been  cut  off  by  our  rapid  movement  on  Columbia 
and  Winnsboro.  From  the  23d  to  the  26th  we  had  heavy  rains, 
swelling  the  rivers,  and  making  the  roads  almost  impassable. 
The  Twentieth  Corps  reached  Hamburg  Rock  on  the  26th,  and 
waited  there  for  the  Thirteenth  Corps  to  get  across  the  Catawba. 
The  heavy  rains  had  so  swollen  the  river  that  the  pontoon  bridge 
broke,  and  General  Davis  had  very  hard  work  to  restore  it,  and 
get  his  command  across.  At  last  he  succeeded,  and  the  left  wing 
was  all  put  in  motion  for  Cheraw.  In  the  meantime  the  right 
wing  had  broken  up  the  railroad  to  Winnsboro,  and  thence  turned 
for  Pea's  Ferry,  where  it  was  crossed  over  the  Catawba  before 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  377 

the  heavy  rains  set  in,  the  Seventeenth  Corps  moving  straight  on 
Cheraw  via  Young's  Bridge,  and  the  Fifteenth  Corps  by  Tiller's 
and  Kelly's  Bridges.  From  this  latter  corps  detachments  were 
sent  into  Camden  to  burn  the  bridge  over  the  Wateree,  with  the 
railroad  depot,  stores,  etc.  A  small  force  of  mounted  men,  under 
Captain  Duncan,  was  also  dispatched  to  make  a  dash  and  inter 
rupt  the  railroad  from  Charleston  to  Florence,  but  it  met  Butler's 
division  of  cavalry,  and,  after  a  sharp  night  skirmish  on  Mount 
Elon,  was  compelled  to  return  unsuccessful.  Much  bad  road  was 
encountered  at  Lynch's  Creek,  which  delayed  the  right  wing 
about  the  same  length  of  time  as  the  left  wing  had  been  at  the 
Catawba.  On  the  2d  of  March  the  leading  division  of  the  Twen 
tieth  Corps  entered  Chesterfield,  skirmishing  with  Butler's  divi 
sion  of  cavalry,  and  the  next  day,  about  noon,  the  Seventeenth 
Corps  entered  Cheraw,  the  enemy  retreating  across  the  Pedee, 
and  burning  the  bridge  at  that  point.  At  Cheraw  we  found  much 
ammunition  and  many  guns,  which  had  been  brought  from 
Charleston  on  the  evacuation  of  that  city.  These  were  destroyed, 
as  also  the  railroad  trestles  and  bridges  down  as  far  as  Darling 
ton.  An  expedition  of  mounted  infantry  was  also  sent  down  to 
Florence,  but  it  encountered  both  cavalry  and  artillery,  and  re 
turned,  having  only  broken  up  in  part  the  branch  road  from 
Florence  to  Cheraw. 

Without  unnecessary  delay,  the  columns  were  again  put  in  mo 
tion,  directed  on  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  the  right  wing  crossing  the 
Pedee  at  Cheraw,  and  the  left  wing  and  cavalry  at  Sneedsboro. 
General  Kilpatrick  was  ordered  to  keep  well  on  the  left  flank,  and 
the  Fourteenth  Corps,  moving  by  Love's  Bridge,  was  given  the 
right  to  enter  and  occupy  Fayetteville  first.  The  weather  con 
tinued  unfavorable  and  roads  bad,  but  the  Fourteenth  and  Seven 
teenth  Corps  reached  Fayetteville  on  the  llth  of  March,  skir 
mishing  with  Wade  Hampton's  cavalry,  that  covered  the  rear  of 
Hardee's  retreating  arm,  which,  as  usual,  had  crossed  Cape  Fear 
River,  burning  the  bridge.  During  the  march  from  the  Pedee, 


378  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

General  Kilpatrick  had  kept  his  cavalry  well  on  the  left  and  ex 
posed  flank.  During  the  night  of  the  9th  of  March  his  three 
brigades  were  divided  to  picket  the  roads.  General  Hampton 
detecting  this,  rushed  in  at  daylight  and  gained  possession  of 
the  camp  of  Colonel  Spencer's  brigade,  and  the  house  in  which 
General  Kilpatrick  and  Colonel  Spencer  had  their  quarters.  The 
surprise  was  complete,  but  General  Kilpatrick  quickly  succeeded 
in  rallying  his  men,  on  foot,  in  a  swamp  near  by,  and  by  a  prompt 
attack,  well  followed  up,  regained  his  artillery,  horses,  camp,  and 
everything,  save  some  prisoners,  whom  the  enemy  carried  off, 
leaving  their  dead  on  the  ground. 

The  12th,  13th  and  14th  were  passed  at  Fayetteville,  destroying 
absolutely  the  United  States  arsenal  and  the  vast  amount  of  ma 
chinery  which  had  formerly  belonged  to  the  old  Harper's  Ferry 
United  States  arsenal.  Every  building  was  knocked  down  and 
burned,  and  every  piece  of  machinery  utterly  broken  up  and 
ruined,  by  the  1st  regiment  Michigan  engineers,  under  the  im 
mediate  supervision  of  Colonel  0.  M.  Poe,  Chief  Engineer.  Much 
valuable  property,  of  great  use  to  the  enemy,  was  here  destroyed 
or  cast  into  the  river. 

Up  to  this  period  I  had  perfectly  succeeded  in  interposing  my 
superior  army  between  the  scattered  parts  of  the  enemy.  But  I 
was  then  aware  that  the  fragments  that  had  left  Columbia  under 
Beauregard  had  been  reenforced  by  Cheatham's  corps  from  the 
West,  and  the  garrison  of  Augusta,  and  that  ample  time  had  been 
given  to  move  them  to  my  front  and  flank  about  Raleigh.  Hardee 
had  also  succeeded  in  getting  across  Cape  Fear  River  ahead  of  me, 
and  could,  therefore,  complete  the  junction  with  the  armies  of 
Johnston  and  Hoke  in  North  Carolina.  And  the  whole,  under  the 
command  of  the  skilful  and  experienced  Joe  Johnston,  made  up 
an  army  superior  to  me  in  cavalry,  and  formidable  enough  in  ar 
tillery  and  infantry  to  justify  me  in  extreme  caution  in  making 
the  last  step  necessary  to  complete  the  march  I  had  undertaken. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  379 

Previous  to  reaching  Fayetteville,  I  had  dispatched  to  Wil 
mington,  from  Laurel  Hill  Church,  two  of  our  best  scouts,  with  in 
telligence  of  our  position,  and  my  general  plans.  Both  of  these 
messengers  reached  AVilmington,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  12th 
of  March,  the  army  tug,  Davidson,  Captain  Ainsworth,  reached 
Fayetteville  from  Wilmington,  bringing  me  full  intelligence  of 
the  outside  world.  On  the  same  day  this  tug  carried  back  to 
General  Terry,  at  Wilmington,  and  General  Schofield,  at  Newbern, 
my  dispatches  to  the  effect  that,  on  Wednesday,  the  15th,  we 
would  move  for  Goldsboro,  feigning  on  Raleigh,  and  ordering 
them  to  march  straight  for  Goldsboro,  which  I  expected  to  reach 
about  the  20th.  The  same  day  the  gunboat  Eolus,  Captain  Young, 
United  States  navy,  also  reached  Fayetteville,  and  through  her  I 
continued  to  have  communication  with  Wilmington  until  the  day 
of  our  actual  departure.  While  the  work  of  destruction  was 
going  on  at  Fayetteville,  two  pontoon  bridges  were  laid  across 
Cape  Fear  River,  one  opposite  the  town  and  the  other  three  miles 
below. 

General  Kilpatrick  was  ordered  to  move  up  the  plank  road,  to 
and  beyond  Averysboro.  He  was  to  be  followed  by  four  di 
visions  of  the  left  wing,  with  as  few  wagons  as  possible  ;  the  rest 
of  the  train,  under  escort  of  the  two  remaining  divisions  of  that 
wing,  to  take  a  shorter  and  more  direct  road  to  Goldsboro.  In 
like  manner,  General  Howard  was  ordered  to  send  his  trains, 
under  good  escort,  well  to  the  right,  towards  Paison's  Depot  and 
Goldsboro',  and  to  hold  four  divisions  light,  ready  to  go  to  the  aid 
of  the  left  wing  if  attacked  while  in  motion.  The  weather  con 
tinued  very  bad,  and  the  roads  had  become  mere  quagmire.  Al 
most  every  foot  of  it  had  to  be  corduroyed  to  admit  the  passage 
of  wheels.  Still,  time  was  so  important,  that  punctually,  accor 
ding  to  order,  the  columns  moved  out  from  Cape  Fear  river,  on 
Wednesday,  the  16th  of  March.  I  accompanied  General  Slocum, 
who,  preceded  by  Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  moved  up  the  river,  or 
plank  road,  that  day,  to  Kyle's  Landing,  Kilpatrick  skirmishing 


380  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

heavily  with  the  enemy's  rear  guard,  about  three  miles  beyond 
Taylor's  Hole  Creek.  At  General  Kilpatrick's  request,  General 
Slocum  sent  forward  a  brigade  of  infantry  to  hold  a  line  of 
barricades. 

Next  morning  the  column  advanced  in  the  same  order,  and  de 
veloped  the  enemy,  with  artillery,  infantry  and  cavalry,  in  an  in 
trenched  position  in  front  of  the  point  where  the  road  branches 
off  towards  Goldsboro  through  Bentonville.  On  an  inspection  of 
the  map  it  was  manifest  that  Hardee,  in  retreating  from -Fay  ette- 
ville,  had  halted  in  the  narrow,  swampy  neck  between  Cape  Fear 
and  South  Rivers  in  hopes  to  hold  me  to  save  time  for  concen 
tration  of  Johmston's  armies  at  some  point  to  his  rear,  namely, 
Raleigh,  Smithfield  or  Goldsboro.  Hardee's  forces  were  esti 
mated  at  twenty  thousand  men.  It  was  necessary  to  dislodge 
him  that  we  might  have  the  use  of  the  Goldsboro  road,  as  also  to 
keep  the  feint  on  Raleigh  as  long  as  possible.  General  Slocum 
was,  therefore,  ordered  to  press  and  carry  the  position,  only 
difficult  by  reason  of  the  nature  of  the  ground,  which  was  so  soft 
that  horses  would  sink  everywhere,  and  even  men  could  hardly 
make  their  way  over  the  common  pine  barren. 

The  Twentieth  Corps,  General  Williams,  had  the  lead,  and  Ward's 
division  the  advance.  This  was  deployed,  and  the  skirmish  line 
developed  the  position  of  a  brigade  of  Charleston  heavy  artillery, 
armed  as  infantry  (Rhett's, )  posted  across  the  road  behind  a 
light  parapet,  with  a  battery  of  guns  enfilading  the  approach 
across  a  cleared  field.  General  Williams  sent  a  brigade  ( Casey's ) 
by  a  circuit  to  the  left  and  turned  this  line,  and,  by  a  quick  charge, 
broke  the  brigade  which  rapidly  retreated  back  to  a  second  line, 
better  built,  and  more  strongly  held.  A  battery  of  artillery 
( Winninger's)  well  posted,  under  the  immediate  direction  of 
Major  Reynolds,  chief  of  artillery  of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  did 
good  execution  on  the  retreating  brigade,  and,  on  advancing 
Ward's  division  over  the  ground,  General  Williams  captured  three 
guns  and  two  hundred  and  seventeen  prisoners,  of  which  sixty- 
eight  were  wounded,  and  left  in  a  house  near  by  with  a  rebel 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  381 

officer,  four  men,  and  five  days'  rations.  One  hundred  and  eight 
rebel  dead  were  buried  by  us.  As  Ward's  division  advanced  he 
developed  a  second  and  stronger  line,  when  Jackson's  division 
was  deployed  forward  on  the  right  of  Ward,  and  two  divisions  of 
Jeff.  C.  Davis',  (Fourteenth)  Corps  on  the  left,  well  towards  Cape 
Fear.  At  the  same  time,  Kilpatrick,  who  was  acting  in  concert 
with  General  Williams,  was  ordered  to  draw  back  his  cavalry  and 
mass  it  on  the  extreme  right,  and  in  concert  with  Jackson's  right, 
to  feel  forward  for  the  Goldsboro  Road.  He  got  a  brigade  on  the 
road,  but  it  was  attacked  by  McLaws'  rebel  division  furiously, 
and,  though  it  fought  well  and  hard,  the  brigade  drew  back  to  the 
flank  of  the  infantry.  The  whole  line  advanced  late  in  the  af 
ternoon,  drove  the  enemy  well  within  his  intrenched  line,  and 
pressed  him  so  hard  that  next  morning  he  was  gone,  having  re 
treated  in  a  miserable,  stormy  night  over  the  worst  of  roads. 
Ward's  division  of  infantry  followed  to,  and  through  Averysboro, 
developing  the  fact  that  Hardee  had  retreated,  not  on  Raleigh, 
but  on  Smithfield.  I  had,  the  night  before,  directed  Kilpatrick 
to  cross  South  River  at  a  milldam  to  our  right  rear,  and  move  up 
on  the  east  side  towards  Elevation.  General  Slocum  reports  his 
aggregate  loss  in  the  affair  known  as  that  of  Averysboro,  at 
twelve  officers  and  sixty-five  men  killed,  and  four  hundred  and 
seventy-seven  wounded.  We  lost  no  prisoners.  The  enemy's 
loss  can  be  inferred  from  his  dead  (one  hundred  and  eight,)  left 
for  us  to  bury.  Leaving  Ward's  division  to  keep  up  a  show  of 
pursuit,  Slocum's  column  was  turned  to  the  right,  built  a  bridge 
across  the  swollen  South  River,  and  took  the  Goldsboro  Road, 
Kilpatrick  crossing  to  the  north,  in  the  direction  of  Elevation, 
with  orders  to  move  eastward,  watching  that  flank.  In  the 
meantime  the  wagon  trains  and  guards,  as  also  Howard's  column, 
were  wallowing  along  the  miry  roads  towards  Bentonville  and 
Goldsboro.  The  enemy's  infantry,  as  before  stated,  had  re 
treated  across  our  front  in  the  same  direction,  burning  the  bridges 
across  Mill  Creek.  I  continued  with  the  head  of  Slocum's  column, 


382 

and  encamped  the  night  of  the  18th  with  him  on  the  Goldsboro 
Road,  twenty-seven  miles  from  Goldsboro,  about  five  miles  from 
Bentonville,  and  where  the  road  from  Clinton  to  Smithfield  crosses 
the  Goldsboro  Road.  Howard  was  at  Lee's  store,  only  two  miles 
south,  and  both  columns  had  pickets  three  miles  forward  to  where 
the  two  roads  came  together,  and  became  common  to  Goldsboro. 
All  the  signs  induced  me  to  believe  that  the  enemy  would  make 
no  further  opposition  to  our  progress,  and  would  not  attempt  to 
strike  us  in  flank  while  in  motion.  I,  therefore,  directed  Howard 
to  move  his  right  wing  by  the  new  Goldsboro  Road,  which  goes 
by  way  of  Falling  Creek  Church.  I  also  left  Slocum,  and  joined 
Howard's  column,  with  a  view  to  open  communication  with  Gen 
eral  Schofield,  coming  up  from  Newbern  and  Terry,  from  Wil 
mington.  I  found  General  Howard's  column  well  strung  out, 
owing  to  the  very  bad  roads,  and  did  not  overtake  him  in  person 
until  he  had  reached  Falling  Creek  Church,  with  one  regiment 
forward  to  the  cross-roads,  near  Cox's  Bridge,  across  the  Neuse. 
I  had  gone  from  General  Slocum  about  six  miles,  when  I  heard 
artillery  in  his  direction,  but  was  soon  made  easy  by  one  of  his 
staff  officers  overtaking  me,  explaining  that  his  leading  division 
(Carlin's)  had  encountered  a  division  of  rebel  cavalry  (Dibbrell's), 
which  he  was  driving  easily  But  soon  other  staff  officers  came 
up,  reporting  that  he  had  developed  near  Bentonville  the  whole 
of  the  rebel  army  under  General  Johnston  himself.  I  sent  him 
orders  to  call  up  the  two  divisions  guarding  his  wagon  trains, 
and  Hazen's  division  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  still  back  near  Lee's 
store,  to  fight  defensively  until  I  could  draw  up  Blair's  Corps, 
then  near  Mount  Olive  Station,  and,  with  the  remaining  three 
divisions  of  the  corps,  come  up  on  Johnston's  left  rear  from  the 
direction  of  Cox's  Bridge.  In  the  meantime,  while  on  the  road, 
I  received  couriers  from  both  Generals  Schofield  and  Terry. 
The  former  reported  himself  in  possession  of  Kinston,  delayed 
somewhat  by  want  of  provisions,  but  able  to  march  so  as  to  make 
Goldsboro  on  the  21st ;  and  Terry  was  at  or  near  Faison's  Dep6t. 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  383 

Orders  were  at  once  dispatched  to  Schofield  to  push  for  Golds- 
boro,  and  to  make  dispositions  to  cross  Little  River  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Smithfield  as  far  as  Millard ;  to  General  Terry  to  move  to 
Cox's  Bridge,  lay  a  pontoon  bridge,  and  establish  a  crossing ; 
and  to  Blair  to  make  a  night  march  to  Falling  Creek  Church ;  and 
at  daylight  the  right  wing,  General  Howard,  less  the  necessary 
wagon  guards,  was  put  in  rapid  motion  on  Bentonville.  By  sub 
sequent  reports  I  learned  that  General  Slocum's  head  of  column 
had  advanced  from  its  camp  of  March  18th,  and  first  encountered 
Dibbrell's  cavalry,  but  soon  found  his  progress  impeded  by  infan 
try  and  artillery.  The  enemy  attacked  his  head  of  column, 
gaining  temporary  advantage,  and  took  three  guns  and  caissons 
of  General  Carlin's  division,  driving  the  two  leading  brigades 
back  on  the  main  body.  As  soon  as  General  Slocum  realized  that 
he  had  in  his  front  the  whole  Confederate  army,  he  promptly  de 
ployed  the  two  divisions  of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  General  Wil 
liams.  These  he  arranged  on  the  defensive,  and  hastily  prepared 
a  line  of  barricades.  General  Kilpatrick  also  came  up  at  the 
sound  of  artillery,  and  massed  on  the  left.  In  this  position,  the 
left  received  six  distinct  assaults,  by  the  combined  forces  of 
Hoke,  Hardee  and  Cheatham,  under  the  immediate  command  of 
General  Johnston  himself,  without  giving  an  inch  of  ground,  and 
did  good  execution  on  the  enemy's  ranks,  especially  with  our 
artillery,  the  enemy  having  little  or  none. 

Johnston  had  moved  by  night  from  Smithfield  with  great  ra 
pidity,  and  without  unnecessary  wheels,  intending  to  overwhelm 
my  left  flank  before  it  could  be  relieved  by  its  cooperating  col 
umns.  But  he  "reckoned  without  his  host."  I  had  expected 
just  such  a  movement  all  the  way  from  Fayetteville,  and  was  pre 
pared  for  it.  During  the  night  of  the  19th  General  Slocum  got 
up  his  wagon  train,  with  its  guard  of  two  divisions,  and  Hazen'a 
division  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  which  reinforcement  enabled 
him  to  make  his  position  impregnable.  The  right  wing  found 
rebel  cavalry  watching  its  approach,  but  unable  to  offer  any 


884  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

serious  opposition,  until  our  head  of  column  encountered  a  con 
siderable  body  behind  a  barricade  at  the  forks  of  the  road  near 
Bentonville,  about  three  miles  east  of  the  battle-field  of  the  day 
before.  On  moving  forward  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  General  Logan 
found  that  the  enemy  had  thrown  back  his  left  flank,  and  had  con 
structed  a  line  of  parapet  connecting  with  that  toward  General 
Slocum,  in  the  form  of  a  bastion,  its  salient  on  the  main  Golds- 
boro  Road,  interposing  between  General  Slocum  on  the  west,  and 
General  Howard  on  the  east,  while  the  flanks  rested  on  Mill 
Creek,  covering  the  road  back  to  Smithfield.  General  Howard 
was  instructed  to  proceed  with  due  caution  until  he  had  made 
strong  connection  on  his  left  with  General  Slocum.  This  he  soon 
accomplished,  and  at  four  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  29th  a 
complete  and  strong  line  of  battle  confronted  the  enemy  in  his 
intrenched  position,  and  General  Johnston,  instead  of  catching  us 
in  detail,  was  on  the  defensive,  with  Mill  Creek  and  a  single 
bridge  to  his  rear.  Nevertheless,  we  had  no  object  to  accomplish 
by  a  battle,  unless  at  an  advantage,  and  therefore  my  general  in 
structions  were  to  press  steadily  with  skirmishers  alone,  to  use 
artillery  pretty  freely  on  the  wooded  space  held  by  the  enemy, 
and  to  feel  pretty  strongly  the  flanks  of  his  position,  which  were, 
as  visual,  covered  with  the  endless  swamps  of  this  region  of 
country.  I  also  ordered  all  empty  wagons  to  be  sent  at  once  to 
Kinston  for  supplies,  and  other  impediments  to  be  grouped  near 
the  Neuse,  south  of  Goldsboro,  holding  the  real  army  in  close 
contact  with  the  enemy,  ready  to  fight  him  if  he  ventured  outside 
his  parapets  and  swampy  obstructions.  Thus  matters  stood  about 
Bentonville  on  the  21st  of  March.  On  the  same  day  General 
Schofield  entered  Goldsboro  with  little  or  no  opposition,  and 
General  Terry  had  got  possession  of  the  Neuse  River  at  Cox'a 
Bridge,  ten  miles  above,  with  a  pontoon  bridge  laid  and  brigade 
across,  so  that  the  three  armies  were  in  actual  connection,  and 
the  great  object  of  the  campaign  was  accomplished. 

On  the  21st  a  steady  rain   prevailed,  during  which  General 
Mower's  division  of  the  Seventeenth  Corps,  on  the  extreme  right, 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  385 

had  worked  well  to  the  right  around  the  enemy's  flank,  and  had 
nearly  reached  the  bridge  across  Mill  Creek,  the  only  line  of  re 
treat  open  to  the  enemy.  Of  course  there  was  extreme  danger 
that  the  enemy  would  turn  on  him  all  his  reserves,  and  it  might 
be,  let  go  his  parapets  to  overwhelm  Mower.  Accordingly,  I  or 
dered  at  once  a  general  attack  by  our  skirmish  line,  from  left  to 
right.  Quite  a  noisy  battle  ensued,  during  which  General  Mower 
was  enabled  to  regain  his  connection  with  his  own  corps,  by 
moving  to  his  left  rear.  Still  he  had  developed  a  weakness  in  the 
enemy's  position  of  which  advantage  might  have  been  taken;  but 
that  night  the  enemy  retreated  on  Smithfield,  leaving  his  pickets 
to  fall  into  our  hands,  with  many  dead  unburied,  and  wounded  in 
his  field  hospitals.  At  daybreak  on  the  22d  pursuit  was  made 
two  miles  beyond  Mill  Creek,  but  checked  by  my  order.  General 
Johnston  had  utterly  failed  in  his  attempt,  and  we  remained  in 
full  possession  of  the  field  of  battle. 

General  Slocum  reports  the  losses  of  the  left  wing,  about  Ben- 
tonville,  at  nine  officers  and  one  hundred  and  forty-five  men 
killed,  fifty-one  officers  and  eight  hundred  and  sixteen  men 
wounded,  and  three  officers  and  two  hundred  and  twenty-three 
missing,  taken  prisoners  by  the  enemy ;  total,  one  thousand  two 
hundred  and  forty-seven.  He  buried  on  the  field  one  hundred 
and  sixty-seven  rebel  dead,  and  took  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  prisoners.  General  Howard  reports  the  losses  of  the  right 
wing  as  two  officers  and  thirty-five  men  killed,  twelve  officers  and 
two  hundred  and  thirty-nine  men  wounded,  and  one  officer  and 
sixty  men  missing  ;  total  three  hundred  and  ninety-nine.  He 
also  buried  one  hundred  rebel  dead,  and  took  one  thousand  two 
hundred  and  eighty-seven  prisoners.  The  cavalry  of  Kilpatrick 
was  held  in  reserve,  and  lost  but  few,  if  any,  of  which  I  have  no 
report  as  yet.  Our  aggregate  loss  at  Bentonville  was  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  forty-six.  I  am  well  satisfied  that  the  enemy 
lost  heavily,  especially  in  his  assault  on  the  left  wing,  during  the 
afternoon  of  the  19th ;  but  as  I  have  no  data  save  his  dead  and 
G* 


386  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEEMAN, 

wounded  left  in  our  hands,  I  prefer  to  make  no  comparison. 
Thus,  as  I  have  endeavored  to  explain,  we  had  completed  our 
march  on  the  21st,  and  had  full  possession  of  Goldsboro,  the  real 
"objective,''  with  its  two  railroads,  back  to  the  seaports  of  Wil 
mington  and  Beaufort,  South  Carolina.  These  were  being  rapidly 
repaired  by  strong  working  parties,  directed  by  Colonel  W.  W. 
Wright,  of  the  railroad  department.  A  large  number  of  sxipplies 
had  already  been  brought  forward  to  Kinston,  to  which  place  our 
wagons  had  been  sent  to  receive  them.  I  therefore  directed  Gen 
eral  Howard  and  the  cavalry  to  remain  at  Bentonville  during  the 
22d,  to  bury  the  dead  and  remove  the  wounded,  and  on  the  fol 
lowing  day  all  the  armies  to  move  to  the  camps  assigned  them 
about  Goldsboro,  there  to  rest  and  receive  the  clothing  and 
supplies  of  which  they  stood  in  need.  In  person  I  went  on  the 
22d  to  Cox's  brigade  to  meet  General  Terry,  whom  I  met  for  the 
first  time,  and  on  the  following  day  rode  into  Goldsboro,  where  I 
found  General  Schofield  and  his  army.  The  left  wing  came  in 
during  the  same  day  and  next  morning,  and  the  cavalry  moved 
to  Mount  Olive  Station,  and  General  Terry  back  to  Faison's.  On 
the  25th  the  Newbern  Railroad  was  finished,  and  the  first  train  of 
cars  came  in,  thus  giving  us  the  means  of  bringing  from  the 
depot  at  Morehead  City  full  supplies  to  the  army. 

It  was  all  important  that  I  should  have  an  interview  Avith  the 
General-in-Chief,  and  presuming  that  he  could  not  afc  this  time 
leave  City  Point,  I  left  General  Schofield  in  chief  command,  and 
proceeded  with  all  expedition  by  rail  to  Morehead  City,  and 
thence  by  steamer  to  City  Point,  reaching  General  Grant's  head 
quarters  on  the  evening  of  the  27th  of  March.  I  had  the  good 
fortune  to  meet  General  Grant,  the  President,  Generals  Meade, 
Ord,  and  others,  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  soon  learned 
the  general  state  of  the  military  world,  from  which  I  had  been, 
in  a  great  measure,  cut  off  since  January.  Having  completed  all 
necessary  business,  I  ree'mbarked  on  the  navy  steamer  Bat,  Cap 
tain  Barnes,  which  Admiral  Porter  placed  at  my  command,  and 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  387 

returned  via  Hatteras  Inlet  and  Newbern,  reaching  my  own  head 
quarters,  in  Goldsboro,  during  the  night  of  the  30th.  During 
my  absence  full  supplies  of  clothing  and  food  had  been  brought 
to  camp,  and  all  things  were  working  well.  I  have  thus  rapidly 
sketched  the  progress  of  our  columns  from  Savannah  to  Golds 
boro,  but  for  more  minute  details  must  refer  to  the  reports  of 
subordinate  commanders  and  of  staff  officers,  which  are  not  yet 
ready,  but  will  in  due  season  be  forwarded  and  filed  with  this 
report.  I  cannot,  even  with  any  degree  of  precision,  recapitu 
late  the  vast  amount  of  injury  done  to  the  enemy,  or  the  quantity 
of  guns  and  materials  of  war  captured  and  destroyed.  In  gen 
eral  terms,  we  have  traversed  the  country  from  Savannah  to 
Goldsboro,  with  an  average  breadth  of  forty  miles,  consuming  all 
the  forage,  cattle,  hogs,  sheep,  poultry,  cured  meats,  corn  meal, 
etc.  The  public  enemy,  instead  of  drawing  supplies  from  that 
region  to  feed  his  armies,  will  be  compelled  to  send  provisions 
from  other  quarters  to  feed  the  inhabitants.  A  map  herewith 
prepared  by  my  chief  engineer,  Colonel  Poe,  with  the  routes  of 
the  four  corps  and  cavalry,  will  show,  at  a  glance,  the  country 
traversed.  Of  course,  the  abandonment  to  us  by  the  enemy  of  the 
whole  sea  coast,  from  Savannah  to  Newbern,  N.  C.,  with  its  forts, 
dock-yards,  gunboats,  etc.,  was  a  necessary  incident  to  our  occu 
pation  and  destruction  of  the  inland  routes  of  travel  and  supply. 
But  the  real  object  of  this  march  was  to  place  this  army  in  a 
position  of  supply,  whence  it  could  take  an  appropriate  part  in 
the  spring  and  summer  campaign  of  1865.  This  was  completely 
accomplished  on  March  21st,  by  the  junction  of  the  three  armies 
and  occupation  of  Goldsboro. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  to  express,  in  the  most  emphatic  manner, 
my  entire  satisfaction  with  the  tone  and  temperament  of  the 
whole  army.  Nothing  seems  to  dampen  their  energy,  zeal  or 
cheerfulness.  It  is  impossible  to  conceive  a  march  involving 
more  labor  and  exposure  ;  yet  I  cannot  recall  an  instance  of  bad 
temper  by  the  way,  or  hearing  an  expression  of  doubt  as  to  our 


888  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

perfect  success  in  the  end.  I  believe  that  this  cheerfulness  and 
harmony  of  action  reflects  upon  all  concerned  quite  as  much 
honor  and  fame  as  "battles  gained"  or  "cities  won,"  and  I 
therefore  commend  all,  generals,  staff  officers,  and  men,  for  these 
high  qualities,  in  addition  to  the  more  soldierly  ones  of  obedience 
to  orders  and  the  alacrity  they  have  always  manifested  when 
danger  summoned  them  "to  the  front." 

The  grand  march  of  Sherman's  army  from 
Savannah  to  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina,  secured 
to  us  the  entire  sea  coast,  as  far  north  as  Newbern. 
The  capture  of  Branchville  and  Columbia,  secured 
the  fall  of  Charleston,  the  cradle  of  secession,  and 
the  "  hot  bed  of  treason."  For  long  months  our 
naval  forces  had  been  thundering  away  at  that 
strong  hold,  but  without  succeeding  in  its  capture. 
It  fell  by  the  strategy  of  Sherman,  without  the 
firing  of  a  single  gun. 

Early  in  the  evening  of  February  17th,  1865, 
Brigadier  General  Schimmelpfenning,  commander 
of  the  Northern  District  of  the  Department  of  the 
South,  discovered  some  indications  which  led  him 
to  believe  that  the  enemy  were  about  to  evacuate 
Charleston  and  its  defenses.  He  ordered  his 
pickets  and  picket  boats  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout 
and  report  immediately  any  movement  on  the  part 
,>f  the  enemy.  In  the  night  a  terrific  explosion 
took  place  in  Charleston,  which  shook  every  ship 
in  the  harbor  and  off  the  bar,  and  was  heard  for 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS. 

many  miles  around.  Immediately  after  the  explo 
sion  flames  broke  out  in  various  parts  of  the  city. 
The  first  explosion,  which  was  at  the  railroad  depot, 
was  the  means  of  firing  the  houses  in  the  vicinity, 
from  whence  the  flames  rapidly  spread  until  the 
conflagration  became  general  in  that  part  of  the 
city.  A  large  number  of  women  and  children 
were  killed  by  the  explosion. 

About  6  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  18th, 
General  Schimmelpfenning  moved  his  forces  and 
occupied  the  city  and  its  defenses.  The  formidable 
earthworks  on  James  Island  were  found  aban 
doned,  and  the  guns  spiked. 

At  8  o'clock,  a  detachment  was  sent  to  take 
possession  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  raise  the  flag 
which  floated  over  Sumter  when  General  Ander 
son  surrendered  the  fort,  nearly  four  years  previ 
ously.  At  9  o'clock  the  old  flag  was  raised  over 
Sumter,  amid  deafning  cheers. 

As  fast  as  our  forces  could  be  thrown  into  the 
city,  they  were  set  to  work  to  put  out  the  fires. 
Thus,  whatever  remains  of  Charleston,  was  saved 
from  being  consumed  to  ashes  by  Federal  soldiers' 
Union  hands.  Thousands  of  bales  of  cotton  were 
burned  by  the  enemy. 

General  Gilmore,  in  his  dispatches  to  the  "War 
Department,  states  after  inspecting  the  defenses  of 
Charleston,  that  we  had  captured  four  hundred  and 


390  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

fifty  pieces  of  ordnance,  eight  locomotives,  and  a 
large  number  of  cars,  all  in  good  condition. 

The  Charleston  Courier  gives  the  following 
account  of  the  evacuation.  This  will  place  the 
blame  of  firing  the  city  where  it  belongs.  "  Rule 
or  ruin"  was  still  the  motto  of  the  conquered 
enemy.  It  seemed  a  righteous  act  of  Providence 
that  that  city  should  be  destroyed  by  the  hands  of 
secessionists,  its  pretended  friends : 

HORRORS   OP  THE   EVACUATION   OF   CHARLESTON. 
[  From  the  Charleston  Courier,  Feb.  20.  ] 

The  terrible  scenes  through  which  this  commu 
nity  has  passed  since  our  last  issue,  can  only  be 
conceived  by  those  who  witnessed  the  dreadful 
reality.  The  saddest  part  of  all  is  the  loss  of  life 
which  occurred  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock, 
Saturday  morning,  from  an  accidental  explosion  of 
powder  and  the  blowing  up  of  the  Northeastern 
Railroad  depot.  About  one  hundred  and  fifty 
persons — including  men,  women,  and  children — 
were  either  instantly  killed,  or  perished  in  the 
flames,  and  about  two  hundred  wounded.  Of  the 
immense  destruction  of  property  no  estimate  can 
be  formed,  but  it  will  amount  to  several  millions. 

Early  Saturday  morning,  before  the  retirement 
of  General  Hardee's  troops,  every  building,  ware 
house,  or  shed,  stored  with  cotton,  was  fired  by  a 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  391 

guard  detailed  for  that  purpose.  The  engines  were 
brought  out,  but  with  the  very  small  force  at  the 
disposal  of  the  fire  department,  very  little  else 
could  be  done  than  to  keep  the  surrounding 
buildings  from  igniting.  On  the  western  side  of 
the  city  the  conflagration  raged  with  great  fury. 
On  the  wharf  of  the  Savannah  Railroad  depot 
several  hundred  bales  of  cotton  were  awaiting 
shipment  on  the  blockade  runners;  also  several 
thousand  bushels  of  rough  rice.  On  Lucas  street, 
leading  to  the  depot,  was  a  shed  containing  twelve 
hundred  bales  of  cotton,  which,  together  with 
several  other  sheds  and  buildings  filled  with  cotton, 
belonging  to  private  parties,  fell  a  prey  to  the 
flames.  Lucas'  Mill,  containing  some  thirty  thou 
sand  bushels  of  rice,  and  Mr.  R.  T.  "Walker's 
warehouse,  at  the  foot  of  Broad  street,  filled  with 
commissary  stores,  were  also 'destroyed. 

Shortly  after  8  o'clock  the  terrible  explosion  at 
the  Northwestern  Railroad  occurred.  The  explo 
sion  was  tremendous,  and  shook  the  whole  city. 
It  appears  from  all  accounts  that  this  dreadful 
catastrophe  was  caused  from  the  careless  handling 
of  powder  by  some  boys,  taking  handfuls  and 
throwing  it  into  the  cotton  fire  at  the  depot.  In 
doing  this  they  unwittingly  laid  a  train  to  the  apart 
ment  in  which  it  was  stored.  The  spectacle  which 
followed  was  horrible.  In  an  instant  the  whole 


392  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEKMAN, 

building  was  enveloped  in  smoke  and  flames.  The 
cries  of  the  wounded,  the  inability  of  the  spectators 
to  render  assistance  to  those  rolling  and  perishing 
in  the  fire,  all  rendered  it  a  scene  of  indescribable 
terror.  The  fire  spread  with  rapidity,  communi 
cating  to  the  adjoining  buildings,  including  the  fine 
large  residence  of  Dr.  Seaman  Deas,  on  the  north 
east  corner  of  Chapel  and  Alexander  streets,  all  of 
which  were  destroyed.  The  buildings  on  the  op 
posite  side  of  the  street  were  soon  enveloped  in 
flames,  and  the  fire  now  became  unmanageable. 
All  the  buildings  embraced  in  the  area  of  four 
squares  on  Chapel,  Alexander,  Washington  and 
Charlotte  streets  to  Calhoun  street,  with  few  ex 
ceptions,  were  destroyed.  About  10  o'clock  fire 
broke  out  in  the  large  four-story  brick  building  of 
Madam  Du  Ree,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  East 
Bay  and  Laurens  streets.  This,  with  the  adjoining 
building  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Minority  street, 
was  till  burned.  Another  fire  broke  out  about  11 
o'clock  in  a  range  of  buildings  on  the  west  side  of 
Meeting  street,  near  to  the  Court  House.  Five 
buildings  were  burned;  the  walls  only  were  left 
standing.  The  alarm  of  fire  Saturday  night,  in 
Ward  four,  was  caused  by  the  burning  of  the  inside 
of  a  millinery  establishment  on  King  street. 

In  addition  to  the  above  facts,  the  new  bridge 
from  the  city  to  James  Island  was  set  on  fire,  and 
was  still  burning  on  Sunday  night. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  393 

DESTRUCTION   OF    THE    GUNBOATS. 

The  burning  and  blowing-up  of  the  iron-clada 
Palmetto  State,  Chicora  and  Charleston  was  a  mag 
nificent  spectacle.  The  Palmetto  State  was  the 
first  to  explode,  and  was  followed  by  the  Chicora, 
about  9  o'clock,  and  the  Charleston  about  11  A.  M. 
The  latter,  it  is  stated,  had  twenty  tons  of  gunpow 
der  on  board.  Pieces  of  the  iron  plates,  red  hot, 
fell  on  the  wharves  and  set  them  on  fire.  By  the 
active  exertions  of  Superintendent  Thomas  Tur 
ner,  the  gas  works  were  saved.  The  explosions 
were  terrific.  Tremendous  clouds  of  smoke  went 
up,  forming  beautiful  wreaths.  A  full  Palmetto 
tree,  with  its  leaves  and  stems,  was  noticed  by 
many  observers.  As  the  last  wreath  of  smoke 
disappeared  the  full  form  of  the  rattlesnake  in  the 
centre  was  remarked  by  many  as  it  gradually  faded 
away. 

INCIDENTS. 

When  Generals  Sherman  and  Howard  rode 
along  the  streets  of  Columbia,  the  skirmishers  who 
had  previously  entered  the  place  cheered  their 
much-loved  chief.  The  chorus  was  taken  up  by 
the  negroes,  who  lined  the  sidewalks,  and  followed 
the  column,  and  shouted  and  danced  along  the 
way,  and  clapped  their  hands  with  exclamations  of 
unbounded  joy. 


394 

"Tank  de  Almighty  God,  Mr.  Sherman  has 
come  at  last.  We  knew  it;  we  prayed  for  de 
day,  and  de  Lord  Jesus  heard  our  prayers.  Mr. 
Sherman  has  come  with  his  company." 

One  fat  old  woman  said  to  Sherman,  while  shak 
ing  him  by  the  hand,  which  he  always  gladly  gave 
to  these  poor  people  :  "  I  prayed  dis  long  time  for 
yer,  and  de  blessing  ob  de  Lord  is  on  yer.  Yester 
day,  when  yer  stopped  trowing  de  shells  into  de 
town,  and  de  soldiers  run  away  from  de  hill  ober 
dar,  I  thout  dat  General  Burygar'  had  drive 
you  away,  for  dey  said  so ;  but  dey  are  dun  gone, 
and  here  yer.  Bress  de  Lord,  yer  will  hab  a 
place  in  heaben;  yer  go  dare,  sure." 

The  following  incidents  are  related  upon  the 
authority  and  in  the  words  of  a  well  known  army 
correspondent : 

CONVERSATIONS    WITH   PROMINENT   CITIZENS. 

Constantly  improving  the  many  excellent  oppor 
tunities  which  I  have  for  conversing  with  the  pro 
minent  citizens,  I  have  unquestionable  evidence  of 
their  desire  to  end  the  war  by  submitting  to  the 
national  authority.  While  not  disguising  their 
belief  in  the  sovereignty  of  a  state,  and  illy  con 
cealing  their  hate  for  the  Yankees,  they  acknowl 
edge  their  powerlessness  to  contend  against  the 
might  of  the  idea  of  nationality  embodied  in  our 
armies  and  navies. 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  395 

HATRED    OF   JEFF.    DAVIS. 

A  citizen,  whose  name  may  be  found  in  the 
earliest  annals  of  the  State,  and  which  stands  forth 
in  high  honor  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  but 
whose  sons  are  now  in  high  office  in  the  army  of 
treason,  said  to  me  to-day : 

•'  Sir,  every  life  that  is  now  lost  in  this  war  is 
murder,  murder,  sir.  We  have  fought  you  bravely, 
but  our  strength  is  exhausted;  we  have  no  re 
sources  ;  we  have  no  more  men.  The  contest  was 
unequal.  You  have  conquered  us,  and  it  is  best  to 
submit  and  make  wise  use  of  the  future.  That  is 
not  my  opinion  because  the  Union  flag  is  flying 
upon  yonder  capitol  to-day,  but  it  has  been  my 
conviction  for  many  months  past — a  conviction 
more  than  confirmed  by  recent  events.  We  would 
have  peace,  sir,  were  it  not  for  that  vain,  obstinate, 
ambitious  man,  Jeff.  Davis.  I  am  not  in  excite 
ment  nor  anger,  sir,  when  I  assure  you  that  I  know 
that  a  large  majority  of  our  people  curse  him,  not 
only  with  their  hearts,  but  their  lips.  His  haughty 
ambition  has  been  our  ruin." 

The  words  of  the  gentleman  which  I  have  thus 
quoted  have  been  the  sentiments  of  nearly  all  I 
see,  only  they  are  sometimes  expressed  with  added 
vehemence  and  more  violent  objurgations  against 
Jeff.  Davis.  Unhappy  chief  of  fallen  spirits  is  he. 
Failure  has  brought  down  upon  him  hatred  and 


396  MAJ,  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

abuse.  It  would  not  be  cheers,  nor  friendly  greet 
ing,  nor  welcome  that  he  would  receive  from  the 
people  of  South  Carolina,  were  he  to  visit  them 
now. 

GIVING   UP   THE   SLAVES. 

There  have  been  many  prophecies  and  theories 
advanced  as  to  the  possible  future  of  the  slaves 
and  their  owners,  but  I  never  thought  that  the  day 
would  ever  come  to  me  when  South  Carolina  slave 
holders  would  beg  that  I  should  take  away  their 
slaves  —  not  because  the  negroes  have  been  unfaith 
ful,  not  that  they  would  be  unkind  when  we  went 
away,  for  a  lady  bore  witness,  with  tears  in  her 
eyes,  to  their  attentions  and  kindness  on  the  night 
of  the  fire ;  but  she  said  : 

"  I  know  they  wish  to  go  with  your  army,  and  I 
beg  of  you  to  take  them,  for  I  have  nothing  for 
them  to  do,  and  cannot  feed  them.  We  have 
scarcely  food  for  our  own  mouths,  much  less  theirs." 

These  requests  are  not  isolated,  but  general. 
The  motives  which  prompt  them  are  extended 
wherever  we  march ;  but  it  is  a  singular  develop 
ment  of  the  war  that  South  Carolinians  should 
petition  us  to  give  freedom  to  the  many  slaves  to 
retain  whose  servitude  they  have  sacrificed  so  much 
of  the  best  life-blood  of  the  land. 

A   NEGRO    WOMAN    SHOT. 

During  the  skirmishing  one  of  our  men  who,  by 
the  way,  was  a  forager,  was  slightly  wounded.  The 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  397 

most  serious  accident  of  the  day  occurred  to  a 
negro  woman,  who  was  in  a  house  where  the  rebels 
had  taken  cover.  When  I  saw  this  woman,  who 
would  not  have  been  selected  as  a  type  of  South 
Carolina  female  beauty,  the  blood  was  streaming 
over  her  neck  and  bosom  from  a  wound  in  the 
lobe  of  her  ear,  which  the  bullet  had  just  clipped 
and  passed  on. 

"  What  was  it  that  struck  you,  aunty  ?  "  I  asked 
her. 

"Lor  bress  me,  massa,  I  dun  know;  I  jus  fell 
right  down." 

"  Didn't  you  feel  anything,  nor  hear  any  sound?  " 

"  Yes,  now  I  'member,  I  heerd  a  s-z-z-z-z-z,  and 
den  I  jus  knock  down.  I  drap  on  de  groun'.  I'se 
so  glad  I  not  dead,  for  if  I  died  den  de  bad  man 
would  git  me,  cos  I  dance  lately  a  heap." 

KEFUGEES    AND    LOYALISTS. 

One  of  the  most  significant  features  of  our 
journey  through  the  South  has  been  the  frequent 
prayer  and  entreaty  of  the  people  that  they  might 
be  permitted  to  join  our  column  and  march  with 
us  to  the  sea,  or  wherever  we  might  go,  so  that 
they  could  leave  the  region  of  despotism,  anywhere 
out  of  the  South  and  towards  the  pure  air  of  free 
dom  again.  One  is  a  mechanic,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  the  old  Granite  State.  He  came  here 
H* 


398  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

four  years  ago  as  master  mechanic  in  a  railroad 
machine-shop.  He  has  been  able  to  avoid  service 
in  the  rebel  army,  because  his  services  were  ne 
cessary  in  the  shop.  He  is  taken  along  for  his 
services  and  can  be  made  of -good  use. 

Here  is  a  daughter  and  mother,  whose  son  is  in 
the  Federal  army.  Their  little  means  have  long 
since  been  exhausted,  and  they  wish  to  go  to  Con 
necticut,  where  relatives  will  gladly  care  for  them, 
and  where  they  can  get  news  of  their  son  and 
brother.  Another  is  a  poor  Irish  woman,  whose 
husband  has  been  conscripted  into  the  rebel  army, 
and  is  now  a  prisoner,  sick  in  a  Northern  hospital. 

At  Columbia  there  were  several  families  of 
wealth  and  position,  who  had  always  been  sus 
pected  of  loyal  proclivities.  Upon  our  occupation 
of  that  city  it  became  known  to  the  rebel  inhabi 
tants  that  these  people  had  always  assisted  our 
prisoners,  and  previous  to  our  approach,  had 
secreted  a  great  many  at  imminent  peril.  It  would 
be  impossible  to  reject  these  generous,  self-sacri- 
iicing  friends.  The  fire  had  not  spared  their  houses, 
and  they  were  homeless,  but  we  well  knew  that  to 
remain  after  our  visit  would  be  certain  death.  Up 
to  this  time  the  want  of  means  of  transportation 
had  necessitated  a  refusal  of  these  requests.  But 
some  of  the  wagons  were  now  empty ;  then  there 
were  a  number  of  vehicles  captured  from  the 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  399 

enemy;  horses  and  mules  we  bring  in  every  day, 
and  again,  riot  a  few  of  the  families  asking  our  pro 
tection,  are  able  to  furnish  their  own  transportation. 

General  Howard  was  in  command  of  the  troops 
at  Columbia,  and  these  unfortunates  did  not  appeal 
in  vain  to  his  generous,  sympathetic  heart,  which 
never  refuses  to  sympathize  with,  those  in  distress. 

With  the  approbation  of  General  Sherman, 
General  Howard  at  once  organized  an  emigrant 
train,  which  was  placed  under  guard  of  the  escaped 
prisoners  belonging  to  other  commands.  This 
train  has  been  separated,  and  apportioned  to  each 
division  of  the  Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth  Corps. 
They  are  getting  along  famously.  Ladies  wTho 
have  been  always  accustomed  to  the  refinements 
of  life,  seem  to  enjoy  the  journey  as  much  as  if  it 
were  a  picnic.  In  truth  it  is  better  than  that ;  for, 
while  they  are  not  exposed  to  the  dangers  of  war, 
they  participate  in  its  excitements.  The  column 
has  a  singularly  outre  appearance.  First,  there  will 
be  a  huge  family  coach  containing  ladies,  with 
their  personal  baggage  crowded  about  them  ;  then 
an  army  wagon  loaded  with  men,  women  and  chil 
dren,  comfortably  seated  upon  such  articles  of 
household  truck  as  they  are  allowed  to  carry.  Fol 
lowing  this  will  be  a  country  cart  filled  with  negro 
women,  for  the  negroes  come  along  also,  and  hosts 
of  little  curly,  bullet-headed  youngsters,  who  gaze 


400 

curiously  upon  the  strange  sights  which  meet  their 
eyes. 

General  Hazen,  whose  name  can  never  be  men 
tioned  but  with  inspiring  recollections  of  the  assault 
of  Fort  McAllister,  tells  me  that  the  large  number 
who  accompany  his  division,  are  but  little  trouble 
to  him,  and  that  they  have  so  quickly  learned  to 
forage  for  themselves  that  they  are  no  expense  to 
the  government.  Two  of  the  escaped  officers,  with 
a  detachment  of  ten  men,  have  charge  of  the  train, 
which  takes  its  assigned  place  in  the  column ;  a 
few  tents  which  are  in  excess  or  have  been  captured 
are  pitched,  when  the  column  go  into  camp,  and 
our  little  colony,  with  grateful  hearts,  go  to  their 
night's  rest  with  the  glad  consciousness  that  they 
are  step  by  step  approaching  a  land  of  civilization 
and  freedom. 

In  this  life,  so  new  and  strange  to  the  refugees, 
numbers  of  families  become  separated  from  each 
other.  Portions  of  the  army,  who  for  days  march 
upon  separate  roads,  will  at  one  time  or  another 
come  together  again,  as  at  this  place  for  example, 
when  three  corps,  which  have  been  marching  upon 
different  roads,  unite  at  Cheraw  for  the  purpose  of 
crossing  the  river.  The  troops  and  trains,  although 
really  distinct  to  the  initiated  eye,  may  be  mistaken 
for  one  another.  I  have  seen  the  negroes,  espe 
cially,  wandering  about  as  completely  lost  as  if  they 
were  in  an  uninhabited  forest. 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  401 

GENERAL    SHERMAN   AND    THE    NEGROES. 

I  happened  to  be  present  to-day  (March  3d) 
at  one  of  those  interviews  which  so  often  occur 
between  General  Sherman  and  the  negroes.  The 
conversation  was  piquant  and  interesting,  not  only 
as  being  characteristic  of  both  parties,  but  it  was 
the  more  significant  because,  on  the  part  of  the 
general,  I  believe  it  a  fair  expression  of  his  feelings 
on  the  slavery  question. 

A  party  of  ten  or  fifteen  negroes  had  just  found 
their  way  through  the  lines  from  Cher  aw.  Their 
owners  had  carried  them  from  the  vicinity  of  Co 
lumbia  to  the  other  side  of  the  Pedee,  with  their 
mules  and  horses,  which  they  were  running  away 
from  our  army.  The  negroes  had  escaped,  and 
were  on  their  way  back  to  find  their  families.  A 
more  ragged  set  of  human  beings  would  not  have 
been  found  out  of  the  slave  states ;  or  perhaps 
Italy.  These  negroes  were  of  all  ages,  and  had 
stopped  in  front  of  the  general's  tent,  which  was 
pitched  a  few  feet  back  from  the  sidewalk  of  the 
main  street. 

Several  officers  of  the  army,  and  among  them 
General  Slocum,  were  gathered  round,  interested 
in  the  scene.  The  general  asked  them  : 

"  Well,  men,  what  can  I  do  for  you ;  where  are 
you  from?" 


402  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

"  Wese  jus  come  from  Cheraw.  Massa  took  us 
with,  him  to  carry  mules  and  horses  away  from 
youins." 

"You  thought  we  would  get  them.  Did  you 
wish  us  to  get  the  mules  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  massa !  dat's  what  I  wanted.  We 
knowed  youins  comin,  and  I  wanted  you  to  have 
dem  mules,  but  no  use,  dey  heard  dat  youins  on 
de  road,  and  nuthin  would  stop  them.  Why,  as  we 
cum  along,  de  cavalry  run  away  from  the  Yanks  as 
if  dey  fright  to  def.  Dey  jumped  into  de  river, 
and  some  of  them  lost  dere  horses.  Dey  frightened 
at  de  beryname  of  Sherman." 

Some  one  at  this  point  said :  "  That  is  General 
Sherman  who  is  talking  to  you." 

"  God  brees  me,  is  you  Mr.  Sherman?" 

"Yes,  I  am  Mr.  Sherman." 

"  Dat's  him,  su'  miff,"  said  one. 

"  Is  dat  de  great  Mr.  Sherman  dat  we's  heard  ob 
so  long,"  said  another. 

"  Why,  dey  so  frightened  at  your  berry  name  dat 
dey  run  right  away,"  shouted  a  third. 

"  It  is  not  me  they  are  afraid  of,"  said  the  gen 
eral;  "the  name  of  another  man  would  have  the 
same  effect  with  them  if  he  had  this  army.  It  is 
these  soldiers  that  they  run  away  from." 

"  Oh,  no,"  they  all  exclaimed,"  its  de  name  ob 
Sherman,  su' ;  and  we  hab  wanted  to  see  you  so 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  403 

long  while  you  trabbel  all  roun'  jis  whar  you  like 
to  go.  Dey  said  dat  dey  wanted  to  git  you  a  little 
furder  on,  and  den  dey  whip  all  your  soldiers ;  but 
God  bress  me,  you  keep  cumin'  and  cumin',  an' 
dey  allers  git  out.' 

"  Dey  mighty  fraid  ob  you,  sar ;  dey  say  you  kill 
de  colored  men,  too,"  said  an  old  man,  who  had  not 
heretofore  taken  part  in  the  conversation. 

With  much  earnestness,  General  Sherman  re 
plied  : 

"  Old  man,  and  all  of  you,  understand  me.  I 
desire  that  bad  men  should  fear  me,  and  the  ene 
mies  of  the  Government  which  we  are  all  fighting 
for.  ~Now  we  are  your  friends;  you  are  now  free. 
("Tank  you,  Massa  Sherman,"  was  ejaculated  by 
the  group.)  You  can  go  where  you  please ;  you 
can  come  with  us  or  go  home  to  your  children. 
"Wherever  you  go  you  are  no  longer  slaves.  You 
ought  to  be  able  to  take  care  of  yourselves.  ( "We 
is ;  we  will.")  You  must  earn  your  freedom,  then 
you  will  be  entitled  to  it,  sure ;  you  have  a  right  to 
be  all  that  you  can  be,  but  you  must  be  industrious, 
and  earn  the  right  to  be  men.  If  you  go  back  to 
your  families,  and  I  tell  you  again  you  can  go 
with  us  if  you  wish,  you  must  do  the  best  you 
can.  When  you  get  a  chance,  go  to  Beaufort  or 
Charleston,  where  you  will  have  a  little  farm  to  work  for 
yourselves." 


404  MAJ    GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

The  poor  negroes  were  filled  with  gratitude  and 
hope  by  these  kind  words,  uttered  in  the  kindest 
manner,  and  went  away  with  thanks  and  blessings 
on  their  lips. 

THE   DESOLATION  OF  WAR  —  FORAGERS  AND   FORAGING. 

Our  foragers  spread  in  irregular  and  regular  par 
ties  skirmishing  over  the  country.  These  enter 
prising  characters  were  known  by  the  names  of 
"Bummers,"  " Smoke-house  Eangers "  and  "Do- 
Boys."  A  bummer  is  an  individual  who  by  favor 
of  a  wagon-master  becomes  possessed  of  a  broken 
down  mule,  or  else  starts,  if  needs  be,  on  foot,  in 
either  case,  of  course,  armed  with  his  musket.  He 
makes  his  way  into  the  enemy's  country,  finds 
horses  in  numbers  by  help  of  the  negroes,  hitches 
a  team  to  a  wagon,  loads  on  it  all  the  stores  and 
supplies  he  can  find  in  the  nearest  house,  mounts 
his  negroes  on  the  rest  of  the  horses,  and  returns 
with  his  spoils.  He  never  objects  to  gold  watches 
or  silver  plate  "if  he  can  find  them  in  a  swamp  a 
mile  away  from  any  house."  These  men  were 
stragglers  not  in  the  rear  but  in  front  of  the  army, 
and  they  went  before  it  like  a  cloud,  being  often 
twenty  or  thirty  miles  in  advance  of  the  head  of 
the  column.  They  would  fight  anything.  Three 
"bummers"  together  would  at  anytime  attack  a 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  405 

company  of  rebel  cavalry,  and,  in  favorable  cir 
cumstances,  would  disperse  them  and  capture 
their  booty.  With  the  exception  of  Columbia 
alone,  every  town  in  South  Carolina  through 
which  the  army  passed  was  first  entered  by  the 
bummers.  At  Chesterfield  they  were  two  days 
and  a  half  ahead  of  the  army,  the  whole  corps 
having  congregated  at  this  point. 

At  Robertsville  we  struck  the  Savannah  and 
Augusta  Railroad,  and  in  obedient  to  the  "file 
left77  order,  turned  towards  Augusta.  Haifa  mile 
out  I  noticed  the  smouldering  ruins  of  Colonel 
Lawton's  fine  plantation,  the  fence  and  negro 
shanties  alone  remaining  undisturbed.  The  plan 
tation  hands  were  all  at  home,  but  before  the 
column  had  disappeared  but  one  or  two  of  Law- 
ton's  blacks  remained  to  tell  the  tale  of  devas 
tation,  when  the  rebel  lord  returned  to  his  deserted 
grounds. 


CHAPTEE  XV. 

SHERMAN'S  CAMPAIGN  IN  THE  CAROLINAS. 

JN  THE  HEART  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA RESULTS  OP  THE 

CAMPAIGN THE  SENTINEL DAVIS  AND  AN  ENGLISH 

PAPER ADVANCE  OF  SHERMAN  AND  RETREAT  OF  THE 

ENEMY EFFECT  OF   THE   CAPTURE   OF   RICHMOND 

FALL  OF  RICHMOND  AND  SURRENDER  OF  LEE'S  ARMY 

CO-OPERATION  OF  SHERMAN MEMORANDUM  OR  AGREE 
MENT  BETWEEN  SHERMAN  AND  JOHNSTON SPECIAL 

ORDER  OF  SHERMAN DISAPPROVAL  OF  THE  AGREE 
MENT    BY   THE    CABINET GRANT    SENT    TO    NORTH 

CAROLINA RESULT  OF  HIS   MISSION EXPLANATION 

OF  SHERMAN'S  COURSE — REMARKS. 

In  the  last  chapter  we  left  General  Sherman 
iind  his  splendid  army,  after  their  successful  march, 
at  G-oldsboro,  Forth  Carolina. 

One  thousand  miles  triumphantly  traversed, 
"brought  the  captors  of  Atlanta,  Milledgeville, 
Savannah,  Charleston,  Columbia,  Fayettville  and 
Goldsboro,  into  the  very  heart  of  Forth  Carolina. 

Some  of  the  results  of  this  campaign  were  four 
teen  cities  captured,  hundreds  of  miles  of  railroad 
destroyed,  thousanoj3"*of  bales  of  cotton  burned ; 
85  cannon,  4,000  prisoners  and  25,000  animals 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  407 

captured,  and  over  fifteen  thousand  white  and 
black  refugees  were  set  free.  Thousands  of  stands 
of  small  arms  were  secured  at  various  places  on 
the  march,  and  large  quantities  of  machinery, 
ammunition  and  stores. 

The  Richmond  Sentinel  pronounced  the  grand 
march  of  Sherman,  "  simply  the  flight  of  a  bird 
through  the  air." 

Jefferson  Davis  admitted,  that  having  conquered 
the  West,  Sherman  seriously  threatened  Richmond 
itself. 

"  Recent  military  operations  of  the  enemy,"  he 
says,  "  have  been  successful  in  capturing  some  of 
our  seaports ;  in  interrupting  some  of  our  lines  of 
communications  and  in  devastating  large  districts 
of  our  country.  These  events  have  had  the  natural 
effect  of  encouraging  our  foes  and  dispiriting  many 
of  our  people." 

The  Sentinel,  however,  in  common  with  the  Army 
and  Navy  Gazette,  the  leading  military  publication 
of  England,  persisted  in  uttering  the  prediction 
that  Sherman  would  be  "  annihilated."  "  Bona 
parte,"  said  this  rebel  organ,  "found  at  last  a 
Moscow  and  a  Waterloo,  and  a  Swedish  madman 
a  Pultona  and  a  Frederickshall.  Sherman,  though 
he  plays  at  a  less  important  game,  dares  a  greater 
danger  and  shall  surely  share  their  fate." 

While  these  extracts  show  that  the  papers  of  the 
South  were  false  prophets,  they  indicate  plainly 


408 

that   Sherman   has    accomplished  what    to   them 
seemed  an  impossibility. 

After  Sherman  had  destroyed  the  arsenal,  ma 
chinery  and  other  property  that  might  be  of  service 
to  the  enemy  —  without  resting  his  army  at  Fay- 
etteville,  as  he  would  have  been  excused  for  doing, 
and  as  any  other  commander  would  have  done  — 
marched  across  the  country  to  GToldsboro !  With 
his  habitual  but  astonishing  fearlessness,  he  moved 
for  the  north  and  rear  of  Goldsboro  for  the  pur 
pose  of  flanking  it.  The  move  was  a  perfect  suc 
cess.  Bragg  and  Johnston  moved  back  on  Raleigh. 
The  flanking  of  Goldsboro  at  once  relieved  the 
pressure  which  kept  Schofield  at  Kinston. 

Sherman's  army  moved  forward,  and  without 
much  serious  opposition  captured  Raleigh,  the 
capital  of  the  State. 

'  The  unfailing  success  of  Sherman  in  driving  the 
rebel  army  before  him,  from  point  to  point,  until 
he  had  readied  a  position  so  threatening  to  Rich 
mond,  compelled  General  R.  E.  Lee  to  send  ree'n- 
forcements  to  Johnston  from  Richmond.  The 
enemy  knew  that  unless  Sherman  could  be  checked 
both  armies  would  be  caged  inside  the  fortifications 
of  Richmond.  But  to  reenforce  Johnston  was  to 
present  a  strong  temptation  to  General  Grant  to 
attack  Richmond.  The  experiment  was  tried, 
"  ex  necessitate."  Grant,  with  his  eagle  eye  saw  the 
gprey,  darted  down  upon  it  and  seized  it. 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  409 

Richmond,  the  nest  of  traitors  and  treason,  and 
Petersburg!!  fell  after  a  desperate  conflict,  and 
great  was  the  fall  thereof.  On  the  3d  day  of  April, 
1865,  they  were  occupied  by  the  United  States 
forces. 

The  retreating  army  of  Lee  was  rapidly  pursued 
until  he  was  completely  surrounded  in  the  vicinity 
of  Appomattox  Court  House,  about  twenty-two 
miles  east  of  Lyiichburg  and  one  hundred  and 
three  miles  west  of  Richmond.  Here  it  was  that 
General  Lee  surrendered  the  army  of  Northern 
Virginia  to  General  Grant,  April  9th,  1865,  on 
such  conditions  as  were  regarded  as  very  lenient, 
even  by  Lee  himself. 

The  details  of  this  great  event,  as  given  by  an 
eye  witness,  will  be  read  with  interest : 

It  will  be  recollected  that  General  Grant's  first 
letter  to  Lee  was  dated  on  the  7th,  Friday,  the  day 
of  the  battle  of  Farmville,  and  the  correspondence 
was  kept  up  during  the  following  day  and  up  to  11 
o'clock  on  Sunday,  as  already  published.  In  re 
sponse  to  General  Grant's  last  letter,  General  Lee 
appeared  on  the  picket  line  of  the  Second  Corps, 
Miles'  division,  with  a  letter  addressed  to  General 
Meade,  requesting  a  cessation  of  hostilities  while 
he  considered  General  Grant's  terms  of  surrender. 
General  Meade  replied  that  he  had  no  authority  to 
accede  to  the  request,  but  that  he  would  wait  two 

I* 

- 


410  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.-  SHERMAN, 

hours  before  making  an  attack.     In  the  meantime 
G-eneral  Grant  sent  word  to  General  Meade  that 
he  would  be  up  in  half  an  hour,  and  the  matter 
was  turned  over  to  him.    A  flag  of  truce  proceeded 
to  Appomattox  Court  House  shortly  after  noon, 
and  at  about  2  o'clock  P.  M.  the  two  generals  met 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Wilmer  McLean.     General 
Lee  was  attended  by  General  Marshal,  his  adjutant 
general,  and  General  Grant,  by  Colonel  Parker, 
one  of  his  chief  aides-de-camp.     The  two  generals 
met  and  greeted  each  other  with  dignified  courtesy, 
and  proceeded  at  once  to  the  business  before  them. 
General  Lee  immediately  alluded  to  the  conditions 
of  the  surrender,  characterized  them  as  exceed 
ingly  lenient,  and  said  he  would  gladly  leave  all 
the    details   to    General   Grant's    own   discretion. 
General  Grant  stated  the  terms  of  parole:  that 
the  arms  should  be  stacked,  the  artillery  packed, 
and  the  supplies  and  munitions  turned   over  to 
him,  the  officers  retaining  their  side  arms,  horses 
and  personal  effects.     General  Lee  promptly  as 
sented  to  the  conditions,  and  the  agreement  of  sur 
render  was  engrossed  and  signed  by  General  Lee 
at  3.30  o'clock. 

General  Lee  asked  General  Grant  for  an  inter 
pretation  of  the  phrase  "personal  effects,"  and 
said  that  many  of  his  cavalrymen  owned  their  own 
horses.  General  Grant  said  he  construed  it  to 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  411 

mean  that  the  horses  must  be  turned  over  to  the 
United  States  Government.  General  Lee  admitted 
the  correctness  and  justice  of  the  interpretation, 
when  General  Grant  said  he  would  instruct  his 
officers  to  allow  those  men  who  owned  their  horses 
to  retain  them,  as  they  would  need  them  for  the 
purpose  of  tilling  their  farms.  General  Lee  ex 
pressed  a  great  sense  of  gratification  for  such  a 
generous  consideration,  and  said  it  would  have  a 
very  good  effect.  He  subsequently  expressed  a 
hope  that  each  soldier  might  be  furnished  with  a 
certificate  of  his  parole,  as  evidence  to  prevent 
him  from  being  forced  into  the  army  until  regu 
larly  exchanged.  General  Grant  assented  to  the 
suggestion,  and  the  printing  presses  were  soon  put 
to  work  to  print  the  documents  required. 

In  regard  to  the  strength  of  his  army,  General 
Lee  said  he  had  no  idea  of  the  number  of  men  that 
he  should  be  able  to  deliver  up.  There  had  been  so 
many  engagements  and  such  heavy  losses  from  de 
sertion  and  other  causes  within  the  past  few  days, 
and  the  retreat  so  rapid,  that  no  regular  morning 
reports  had  been  made  since  leaving  Petersburg ; 
but  it  is  generally  believed  by  the  best  informed 
officers  that  Lee  surrendered  eighteen  to  twenty 
thousand  men.  Of  the  army  horses,  wagons,  &c., 
there  is  no  official  account.  General  Lee  informed 


412 

General  Grant  that  his  men  were  short  of  provi 
sions,  whereupon  General  Grant  ordered  twenty- 
five  thousand  rations  to  be  distributed  to  them. 
Thus  substantially  ended  the  interview.  Both  gen 
erals  were  the  very  impersonation  of  dignity  and 
courtesy  in  their  bearing.  Lee  was  in  fine  health, 
and  though  apparently  impressed  with  the  vital 
effect  and  importance  of  the  act  he  was  perform 
ing,  he  was  cheerful  and  pleasant  in  his  demeanor. 
The  house  where  the  stipulations  were  signed  was 
a  fair  brick  structure,  with  neat  grounds,  and  quite 
neatly  furnished.  The  room  in  which  the  interview 
took  place  was  a  comfortable  parlor,  about  eigh 
teen  by  twenty  feet,  and  adorned  by  the  usual 
furnishing  common  to  the  average  of  Virginia 
houses. 

Both  generals  were  attired  in  full  uniform.  Lee 
wore  a  very  fine  sword.  Grant  had  no  side  arms, 
having  left  camp  the  day  previous  with  the  inten 
tion  of  being  gone  but  a  few  hours,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  being  gone  all  night.  "When  the  two 
generals  first  met  they  were  attended  only  by  the 
staff  officers  already  mentioned;  but,  during  the 
interview,  several  of  our  officers  entered  and  were 
introduced  to  General  Lee,  who  received  them  cor 
dially  and  made  no  objections  to  their  presence. 
They  were  Major  Generals  Ord  and  Sheridan, 
Brevet  Major  General  Ingalls,  Brigadier  Generals 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  413 

"Williams,  Rawlins  and  Barnard,  Lieutenant  Colo 
nels  Parker,  Dent,  Badeau,  Bowers,  A.  A.  G., 
Porter  and  Babcock,  and  Captain  Lincoln.  E.  B. 
"Washburn,  M.  C.  from  Illinois,  was  the  only  civilian 
present. 

It  should  be  said  that  General  Grant  had  antici 
pated  the  surrender  for  several  days,  and  had 
resolved  beforehand  not  to  require  the  same  for 
malities  which  are  required  in  a  surrender  between 
the  forces  of  two  foreign  nations  or  belligerent 
powers ;  that  they  were  our  own  people,  and  to 
exact  no  conditions  for  the  mere  purpose  of 
humiliation. 

After  the  interview  General  Lee  returned  to  his 
own  camp,  about  half  a  mile  distant,  where  Ms 
leading  officers  were  assembled  awaiting  his 
return. 

He  announced  the  result  and  the  terms,  where 
upon  they  expressed  great  satisfaction  at  the  leni 
ency  of  the  conditions.  They  then  approached 
him  in  order  of  rank,  shook  hands,  expressing 
satisfaction  at  his  course  and  their  regret  at  parting, 
all  shedding  tears  on  the  occasion. 

The  fact  of  surrender  and  the  liberal  terms  were 
then  announced  to  the  troops,  and  when  General 
Lee  appeared  among  them  he  was  loudly  cheered. 
On  Monday,  between  9  and  10  o'clock  A.  M., 
General  Grant  and  staff  rode  out  in  the  direction 


414 

of  the  rebel  lines,  and  on  a  hill  just  beyond  the 
court  house,  where  a  fall  view  of  the  rebel  army 
could  be  obtained,  General  Lee  was  met,  attended 
by  but  one  staff  officer  and  orderlies.  The  gen 
erals  halted,  and,  seated  on  their  horses,  conversed 
for  nearly  an  hour  upon  the  prospects  of  the  future, 
each  seeming  to  realize  the  mighty  influence  which 
the  events  of  the  present  were  to  have  upon  it. 
General  Lee  signified  very  emphatically  his  desire 
for  a  total  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  indicated 
his  intention  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  effect  that 
end.  The  best  of  good  feeling  prevailed,  and  this 
was  the  last  interview  between  the  two  comman 
ders.  General  Grant  returned  to  McLean's  house, 
and  soon  after  Generals  Longstreet,  Gordon, 
Pickett  and  Heth,  with  a  number  of  staff  officers, 
arrived,  and  after  recognitions  and  introductions, 
an  hour  of  very  friendly  intercourse  took  place, 
during  which  many  scenes  and  incidents  of  college 
days,  and  days  of  service  together  in  the  regular 
army,  were  revived  and  retold  with  much  good 
nature. 

General  Grant  gave  General  Lee  and  his  princi 
pal  officers  passes  to  proceed  whither  they  wished. 
The  parties  then  separated,  and  early  on  Tuesday 
morning  General  Grant  and  staff  left  the  scene  of 
the  great  event  for  their  head-quarters  at  City 
Point,  arriving  at  4.30  A.  M.  General  Meade  was 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  415 

left  in  command  to  superintend  the  details  of  the 
surrender,  which  would  occupy  several  days,  the 
work  of  providing  each  man  and  officer  with  an 
individual  parole  being  a  slow  and  tedious  one ; 
part  of  them  are  written  and  part  printed  by  the 
little  printing  presses  which  accompany  the  head 
quarters. 

Thus  in  exactly  two  weeks,  to  almost  an  hour, 
from  the  time  General  Grant  and  staff  broke  up 
their  head-quarters  at  City  Point  for  the  spring 
campaign,  they  return  with  the  spring  campaign 
not  only  complete,  but  the  entire  opposing  army 
destroyed,  and  the  war  substantially  closed.  The 
complete  character  of  the  destruction  of  Lee's 
army  thus  accomplished,  forcibly  appears  from 
these  facts,  viz :  That  when  the  operations  began 
two  weeks  ago,  his  army  numbered  not  less  than 
65,000  men;  that  we  have  captured  from  him 
25,000  prisoners ;  that  his  killed  and  wounded  are 
not  less  than  14,000 ;  and  that  the  balance  of  the 
army  deserted  on  the  retreat,  or  fell  into  our  hands 
at  the  surrender. 

The  congratulations  at  head-quarters  were  very 
hearty. 

All  honor  to  General  Grant  and  his  heroic  sol 
diers,  for  the  utter  overthrow  of  the  army  of  ISTor- 
thern  Virginia.  But  let  it  never  be  forgotten  that 
they  could  not  have  accomplished  that  great  result 


416  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

without  the  cooperation  of  Sherman  and  his  noble 
army.  The  long  and  successful  march  of  Sherman 
through  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas,  made  that 
event  possible.  Every  effort  hitherto  to  capture 
Richmond  had  failed. 

After  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army  it  was  the 
general  expression  that  Johnston  would  also  sur 
render  to  Sherman  without  another  battle.  Day 
after  day  rumors  were  afloat  of  the  expected  sur 
render.  At  length  a  bearer  of  dispatches  from 
General  Sherman  arrived  at  Washington  City  on 
the  evening  of  April  21st,  with  the  following 
agreement  between  Sherman  and  Johnston,  to  be 
submitted  to  the  War  Department  for  approval  or 
disapproval  : 

MEMORANDUM  OR  BASIS  OF  AGREEMENT 

Made  this  18th  day  of  April,  A.  D.,  1865,  near  Durham's  Station, 
in  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  by  and  between  Gen.  Jos.  Johnston, 
commanding  Confederate  Army,  and  Major-  General  W.  T.  Sherman, 
commanding  the  Army  of  the  United  States  in  North  Carolina  ; 

1.  The  contending  armies  now  in  the'  field  to  maintain  their 
statu  quo  until  notice  is  given  by   the  commanding   general  of 
either  one  to  its  opponents,  and  a  reasonable  time,  say  forty-eight 
hours,  allowed. 

2.  The  Confederate  armies  now  in  existence  to  be  disbanded 
and  conducted  to  their  several  State  capitals,  there  to  deposit 
their  arms  and  public  property  in  the  State  arsenals,  and  each  of 
five  men  to  execute  and  file  an  agreement  to  cease  from  acts  of  war 
and  abide  the  action  of  both  State  and  Federal  authority.     The 
number  of  arms  and  munitions  of  war  to  be  reported  to  the  Chief 
of  Ordnance  at  Washington  City,  subject  to  the  future  action  of 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  417 

the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the  meantime  to  be  used 
solely  to  maintain  peace  and  order  within  the  borders  of  the 
States  respectively. 

3.  The  recognition  by  the  executive  of  the  United  States  of  the 
several  State  governments   and  their  officers  and  Legislatures, 
and  taking  the  oath  prescribed  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  and  where  conflicting   State  governments  have  resulted 
from  war,  the  legitimacy  of  all  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States. 

4.  The  recstablishment  of  all  the  Federal  Courts  in  the  several 
States,  with  powers  as  delegated  by  the  Constitution  and  laws  of 
Congress. 

5.  People  and  inhabitants  of  all  the  States  to  be  guaranteed, 
so  far  as  the  executive  can,  their  political  rights  and  franchises, 
as  well  as  their  rights  of  persons  aud  property,  as  denned  by  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  of  States  respectively. 

6.  The   executive  authority  of  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  not  to  disturb  any  of  the  people  by  reason  of  the  late  war, 
so  long  as  they  live  in  peace  and  quiet,  abstain  from  acts  of  armed 
hostilities,  and  obey  the  laws  in  existence,  in  any  place  of  their 
residence. 

7.  The  general  terms  we  leave  to  a  general  amnesty,  so  far  as 
the  executive  power  of  the  United  States  can  convey,  or  on  con 
dition  of  disbandment  of  the  Confederate  armies,  and  the  dis 
tribution  of  arms  and  resumption  of  peaceable  pursuits  by  officers 
and  men,  as  hitherto  composing  the  said  armies,  not  being  fully 
empowered  by  our   respective  principals    to  fulfil  these  terms. 
We  individually  and  officially  pledge  ourselves  to  promptly  obtain 
the  necessary  authority,  and  to  carry  out  the  above  programme. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Commander  Army  United  States  in  North  Carolina. 

J.  E.  JOHNSTON, 

General  Commanding  Confederate  Army,  North  Carolina. 


418  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

The  next  day,  April  19th,  1865,  General  Sher 
man  issued  the  following  order  : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  ~| 

"Mississippi,  IN  THE  FIELD, 
"RALEIGH,  N.  C.,  April  19,  18G5.      J 

"  SPECIAL  FIELD  ORDER,  No.  58. 

"  The  general  commanding  announces  to  the  army  a  suspension 
of  hostilities  and  an  agreement  with  General  Johnston,  and  high 
officials,  which  when  formally  ratified,  will  make  peace  from  the 
Potomac  to  the  Rio  Grande.  Until  absolute  peace  is  arranged,  a 
line  passing  through  Tyrell's  Mount,  Chapel  Hill,  University, 
Durham's  Station  and  West  Point,  on  the  Neuse  River,  wil  sepa 
rate  the  armies.  Each  army  commander  will  group  his  camp 
entirely  with  a  view  to  comfort,  health  and  good  discipline.  All 
details  of  military  discipline  must  still  be  maintained.  The  gen 
eral  hopes  and  believes  that  in  a  very  few  days  it  will  be  his  good 
fortune  to  conduct  you  all  to  your  homes. 

"  The  fame  of  this  army  for  courage,  industry  and  discipline 
is  admitted  all  over  the  world.  Then  let  each  officer  and  man  see 
that  it  is  not  stained  by  any  act  of  vulgarity,  rowdyism  and  petty 
crime. 

"  Cavalry  will  patrol  the  front  of  the  line;  General  Howard  will 
take  charge  of  the  district  from  Raleigh  up  to  the  cavalry;  Gen 
eral  Slocum  to  the  left  of  Raleigh;  and  General  Schofield  in  Ra 
leigh,  its  right  and  rear.  The  quartermaster  and  commissaries 
will  keep  their  supplies  up  to  a  light  load  for  the  wagons,  and  the 
railroad  superintendent  will  arrange  a  depot  for  the  convenience 
of  each  separate  army. 

"By  order  of  Major-General  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 

"L.  M.  DAYTON,  A.  A,  G." 

The  Cabinet  held  a  meeting  promptly  after  the 
reception  of  the  dispatches  from  Sherman,  and 
disapproved  of  the  agreement,  for  the  following 
reasons  : 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  419 

1.  It  was  an  exercise  of  authority  not  vested  in  General  Sher 
man  ;  and  its  face  shows  that  both  he  and  Johnston  knew  tnat  he 
(General   Sherman)   had  no   authority  to   enter   into  any  such 
arrangements. 

2.  It  was  a  practical  acknowledgment  of  the  Rebel  Government. 

3.  It  undertook  to  reestablish   the  rebel   State   governments, 
that  had  been  overthrown  at  the  sacrifice  of  many  thousand  loyal 
lives  and  an  immense  treasure,  and  placed  arms  and  ammunition 
in  the  hands  of  rebels  at  their  respective  capitals,  which  might 
be  used  as  soon  as  the  armies  of  the  United  States  were  disbanded, 
and  used  to  conquer  and  subdue  the  loyal  States. 

4.  By  the  restoration  of  the   rebel  authorities  in  their  res 
pective  States,  they  would  be  enabled  to  reestablish  slavery. 

5.  It  might  furnish  a  ground  of  responsibility  by  the  Federal 
Government  to  pay  the  rebel  debt,  and  would  certainly  subject 
loyal  citizens  of  the  rebel  States  to  the  debt  incurred  by  rebels  in 
the  name  of  the  State. 

6.  It  puts  in  dispute  the  existence  of  loyal  State  governments, 
and  the  new  State  of  West  Virginia,  which  had  been  recognized 
by  every  department  of  the  United  States  Government. 

7.  It  practically  abolished  the  confiscation  laws,  and  relieved 
rebels  of  every  degree,  who  had  slaughtered  our  people,  from  all 
pains  and  penalties  for  their  crimes. 

8.  It  gave  terms  that  had  been  deliberately,  repeatedly  and 
solemnly  rejected  by  President  Lincoln,  and  better  terms  than 
the  rebels  had  ever  asked  in  their  most  prosperous  condition. 

9.  It  forms  no  basis  of  true  and  lasting  peace,  but  relieved  the 
rebels  from  the  pressure  of  our  victories,  and  left  them  in  a  con 
dition  to  renew  their  efforts  to  overthrow  the  United  States  Gov 
ernment  and  subdue  the  loyal  States  whenever  their  strength  was 
recruited  and  an  opportunity  should  oifer. 

General  Grant  was  sent  to  North  Carolina  to 
inform  General  Sherman  of  the   conclusions   of 


420  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

the  Cabinet  in  regard  to  his  agreement  with  John 
ston,  and  to  take  such  steps  as  might  be  necessary 
to  secure  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army  on  the 
same  terms  of  Lee's  surrender. 

The  following  correspondence  announces  the 
result  of  General  Grant's  mission  to  Sherman : 

NEW  YORK,  May  1. 

The  Herald's  Washington  special  says:  "General  Grant  has 
returned  in  the  most  excellent  spirits.  He  expresses  much 
gratification  at  the  prompt  execution  of  the  orders  of  the  Gov 
ernment  in  reference  to  the  agreement  between  General  Sherman 
and  Joe  Johnston.  General  Sherman  met  the  lieutenant  general 
twenty  miles  from  the  front.  He  received  the  order  of  disappro 
val  with  most  commendable  good  grace.  There  was  no  hesitation, 
no  murmuring,  nor  any  expression  of  dissatisfaction  at  the  disap 
proval  of  the  terms  entered  into  between  him  and  the  rebel  gen 
eral,  but  without  any  delay  or  argument  in  defense  of  the  course 
previously  pursued,  General  Sherman  and  his  generals,  with  a 
true  soldierly  spirit,  set  to  work  with  alacrity  to  carry  out  the 
views  of  the  Government  communicated  by  General  Grant. 
Within  five  minutes  a  dispatch  was  sent  to  Johnston  terminating 
the  armistice.  Upon  the  receipt  of  the  notification  by  the  rebel 
pickets,  orders  were  given  for  our  troops  in  the  rear  to  move  up 
to  the  front.  In  a  few  hours  General  Frank  Blair,  with  his  corps, 
was  in  motion.  General  Sherman  had  informed  Johnston  that 
the  Government  would  not  sanction  the  terms  proposed,  and  that 
he  should  immediately  resume  hostilities.  Immediately  upon 
receipt  of  this  notice,  Johnston  sent  back  a  flag  of  truce,  asking 
an  interview  with  Sherman  to  arrange  other  terms  of  surrender, 
which  was  promptly  made  upon  the  basis  of  the  terms  given  to 
General  Lee." 

The  New  York  Tribune's  Washington  special  says :  "  General 
Grant  is  reported  to  have  said  that  when  he  informed  General 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  421 

Sherman  of  the  terms  he  had  forwarded  to  Washington,  the  latter 
frankly  admitted  that  he  had  made  a  mistake  in  not  having  it  put 
in  writing  that  slavery  was  dead,  but  that  was  the  understanding 
between  them.  As  to  permitting  the  rebel  legislatures  to  assem 
ble,  he  agreed  to  that  because  he  had  just  learned  that  the  Vir 
ginia  Legislature  was  permitted  to  assemble  by  the  authority  of 
the  President,  and  in  the  absence  of  official  instructions,  he  inter 
preted  the  President's  desire  to  be  that  the  rebel  civil  govern 
ments  should  be  retained  for  the  preservation  of  order,  and  to 
avoid  maintaining  a  military  force  in  those  States,  as  well  as  to 
do  away  with  the  irritation  likely  to  grow  out  of  military  govern 
ment.  As  to  the  amnesty,  it  was  only  to  cover  officers  and  sol 
diers.  When  his  attention  was  called  to  the  wording,  he  replied* 
with  much  spirit,  'That  doesn't  express  the  understanding 
between  us.'  " 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  the  agreement  between 
Sherman  and  Johnston  was  received  by  the  country 
writh  astonishment  and  universal  regret.  Various 
explanations  have  been  given  of  the  course  of  the 
general  in  this  matter. 

It  has  been  said  that  Sherman  signed,  and  for 
warded  to  Washington,  the  agreement,  simply  for 
the  consideration  and  action  of  the  proper  authori 
ties.  That,  so  far  as  he  was  concerned,  he  neither 
approved  nor  disapproved  the  terms  of  agreement. 
The  promptness  with  which  he  carried  out  the 
will  of  the  Government,  when  made  known  to  him 
by  the  lieutenant  general,  certainly  gives  some 
plausibility  to  this  opinion. 

It  has  also  been  stated  that  the  magnanimity  of 
our  great  and  good  President,  who  had  fallen  by 
J* 


422  MAJ.  GEN.  TV.  T.  SHERMAN, 

the  hand  of  the  cowardly  assassin,  and  the  mag 
nanimity  of  General  Grant  to  Lee  and  his  army, 
had  impressed  Sherman  with  the  idea  that  mag 
nanimity  was  the  order  of  the  day,  and  that  he, 
therefore,  determined  to  outflank  them  all  in  this 
respect. 

Whatever  may  have  been  Sherman's  reasons  for 
his  course  in  this  matter,  let  it  not  be  forgotten 
that  if  he  was  not  equal  to  Johnston  and  his  coun 
selors  in  diplomacy,  he  was  more  than  a  match 
for  them  in  the  field  and  with  the  sword. 

This  mistake,  or  blunder,  if  it  may  be  so  called, 
did  not  have  its  origin  in  any  special  love  for  slave 
ry,  or  desire  to  preserve  that  wretched  and  fallen 
institution,  or  from  any  shadow  of  feeling  that 
might  be  characterized  disloyal. 

The  following  extracts  from  letters  written  by 
Sherman  to  subordinate  commanders,  and  other 
parties,  daring  the  war,  together  with  other  docu 
ments  in  previous  chapters  of  this  volume,  will  give 
to  the  reader  very  clear  views  of  his  opinions  on 
several  questions  that  were  necessarily  connected 
with  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  The  war  and  its 
relation  to  the  Government,  subjects  which  in  both 
cases  have  led  to  much  speculation  among  poli 
ticians  and  writers,  are  discussed  by  the  general 
from  a  military  stand-point,  which  probably  will 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  423 

prove  the  best  and  most  successful  in  the  end.    He 

says : 

"  The  war  which  prevails  in  our  land  is  essentially  a  war  of 
racer.  The  Southern  people  entered  into  a  clear  compact  of 
government,  but  still  maintained  a  species  of  separate  interests, 
history  and  prejudices.  These  latter  became  stronger  and 
stronger,  till  they  have  led  to  a  Avar,  which  has  developed  fruits 
of  the  bitterest  kind. 

"  We  of  the  North  are,  beyond  all  question,  right  in  our  lawful 
cause,  but  we  are  not  bound  to  ignore  the  fact  that  the  South 
have  prejudices  which  form  part  of  their  nature,  and  which  they 
cannot  throw  off  without  an  effort  of  reason  or  the  slower  pro 
cess  of  natural  change.  Now  the  question  arises,  should  we 
treat  as  absolute  enemies  all  in  the  South  who  differ  from  us  in 
opinion  or  prejudices — kill  or  disable  them?  Or,  should  we  give 
them  time  to  think,  and  gradually  change  their  conduct  so  as  to 
conform  to  the  new  order  of  things  which  is  slowly  and  gradually 
creeping  into  their  country  ? 

"  When  men  take  arms  to  resist  our  rightful  authority,  we  are 
compelled  to  use  force,  because  all  reason  and  argument  cease 
when  arras  are  resorted  to.  When  the  provisions,  forage,  horses, 
mules,  wagons,  etc.,  are  used  by  our  enemy,  it  is  clearly  our 
duty  and  right  to  take  them,  because  otherwise  they  may  be  used 
against  us. 

"  In  like  manner,  all  houses  left  vacant  by  an  inimical  people 
are  clearly  our  right,  or  such  as  are  needed  as  store-houses, 
hospitals  and  quarters." 

In  another  place : 

"For  my  part,  I  believe  that  this  war  is  the  result  of  false 
political  doctrine,  for  which  we  are  all  as  a  people  responsible, 
viz. :  that  any  and  every  people  have  a  right  to  self-government ; 
and  I  would  give  all  chances  to  reflect,  and  when  in  error  to 
recant. 


424  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

"In  this  belief,  while  I  assert  for  our  Government  the  highest 
military  prerogatives,  I  am  willing  to  bear  in  patience  that  politi 
cal  nonsense  of  slave-rights,  State  rights,  freedom  of  conscience, 
freedom  of  press,  and  such  other  trash  as  have  deluded  the 
Southern  people  into  war,  anarchy,  bloodshed  and  the  foulest 
crimes  that  have  disgraced  any  time  or  any  people. 

"I  know  slave  owners,  finding  themselves  in  possession  of  a 
species  of  property  in  opposition  to  the  growing  sentiment  of  the 
whole  civilized  world,  conceived  their  property  in  danger,  and 
foolishly  appealed  to  war ;  and  by  skilful  political  handling  in 
volved  with  them  the  whole  South  in  the  doctrine  of  error  and 
prejudice.  I  believe  that  some  of  the  rich  and  slavoholding  are 
prejudiced  to  an  extent  that  nothing  but  death  and  ruin  will  ex 
tinguish;  but  hope  that  as  the  poorer  and  industrial  classes  of 
the  South  realize  their  relative  weakness,  and  their  dependence 
upon  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  and  the  good-will  of  their  fellow- 
men,  they  will  not  only  discover  the  error  of  their  ways,  and 
repent  of  their  hasty  action,  but  bless  those  who  persistently 
maintained  a  Constitutional  Government,  strong  enough  to  sus- ' 
tain  itself,  protect  its  citizens,  and  promise  peaceful  homes  to 
millions  yet  unborn." 

His  opinions  in  regard  to  the  rights  of  the  Gov 
ernment,  and  the  inevitable  consequences  of  a 
much  longer  continuance  of  the  war,  are  still  more 
apt,  forcible  and  logical.  He  writes : 

"The  Government  of  the  United  States  has  in  North  Alabama 
any  and  all  rights  which  they  choose  to  enforce  in  war — to  take 
their  lives,  their  homes,  their  every  thing,  because  they  cannot 
deny  that  war  does  exist  there,  and  war  is  simply  power  unre 
strained  by  constitution  or  compact.  If  they  want  eternal  war 
fare,  well  and  good;  we  will  accept  the  issue  and  dispossess 
them,  and  put  our  friends  in  possession.  I  know  thousands  and 
millions  of  good  people,  who,  at  simple  notice,  would  come  to 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  425 

North  Alabama  and  accept  the  elegant  houses  and  plantations 
there. 

"  If  the  people  of  Huntsville  think  differently,  let  them  persist 
in  war  three  years  longer,  and  then  they  will  not  be  consulted. 
Three  years  ago,  by  a  little  reflection  and  prudence  they  could 
have  had  a  hundred  years  of  peace  and  prosperity,  but  they 
preferred  war.  Very  well ;  last  year  they  could  have  saved  their 
slaves,  but  now,  it  is  too  late  —  all  the  powers  of  earth  cannot 
restore  to  them  their  slaves  any  more  than  their  grandfathers. 
Next  year  their  lands  will  be  taken,  for  in  war  we  can  take  them, 
and  rightfully,  too,  and  another  year  they  may  beg  in  vain  foi 
their  lives.  A  people  who  will  persevere  in  war  beyond  a  cer^ 
tain  limit  ought  to  know  the  consequences.  Many,  many  people, 
with  less  pertinacity  than  the  South,  have  been  wiped  out  oi 
national  existence." 

On  the  question  of  guerrillas,  perhaps  the  mos; 
difficult  of  all  the  problems  of  the  war,  the  general 
has  shown  his  soundness  of  policy.  We  recom 
mend  his  views  to  the  particular  attention  of  all 
officers.  In  a  letter  written  from  Kenesaw  Moun 
tain,  Georgia,  to  General  Burb ridge,  commanding 
in  Kentucky  during  the  raid  of  Morgan  in  the 
summer  of  '64,  the  general  spoke  upon  the  subject 
of  the  raid  freely,  the  substance  of  his  letter  being 
summed  up  by  himself  as  follows  : 

<(  1st.  You  may  order  all  your  post  and  district  commanders 
that  guerillas  are  not  soldiers,  but  wild  beasts,  unknown  to  the 
usages  of  war.  To  be  recognized  as  soldiers,  they  must  be  en 
listed,  enrolled,  officered,  uniformed,  armed  and  equipped,  by 
recognized  belligerent  power,  and  must,  if  detailed  from  a  main 
army,  be  of  sufficient  strength,  with  written  orders  from  some 
army  commander,  to  do  some  military  thing.  Of  course  we  have 


426  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

recognized  the  Confederate  Government  as  a  belligerent  power 
but  deny  their  right  to  our  lands,  territories,  rivers,  coasts,  and 
nationality  —  admitting  the  right  to  rebel  and  move  to  some  other 
country,  where  laws  and  customs  are  more  in  accordance  with 
their  own  ideas  and  prejudices. 

"2d.  The  civil  power  being  insufficient  to  protect  liTe  and"pro- 
perty,  ex  necessitate  rei,  to  prevent  anarchy,  'which  nature  abhors,' 
the  military  steps  in,  and  is  rightful,  constitutional,  and  lawful. 
Under  this  law  everybody  can  be  made  to  '  stay  at  home  and 
mind  his  and  her  own  business,'  and  if  they  won't  do  that,  can 
be  sent  away  where  they  cannot  keep  their  honest  neighbors  in 
fear  of  danger,  robbery  and  insult. 

"3d.  Your  military  commanders,  provost  marshals  and  other 
agents  may  arrest  all  males  and  females  who  have  encouraged  or 
harbored  guerillas  and  robbers,  and  you  may  cause  them  to  be 
collected  in  Louisville,  and  when  you  have  enough  —  say  three  or 
four  hundred — I  will  cause  them  to  be  sent  down  the  Mississippi, 
through  their  guerilla  gauntlet,  and  by  a  sailing  ship  send  them 
to  a  land  where  they  may  take  negroes  and  make  a  colony,  with 
laws  and  a  future  of  their  own.  If  they  won't  live  in  peace  in 
such  a  garden  as  Kentucky,  why,  we  will  send  them  to  another, 
if  not  a  better,  land,  and  surely  this  would  be  a  kindness  to 
them,  and  a  God's  blessing  to  Kentucky." 

One  of  the  greatest  embarrassments  experienced 
by  our  armies  arose  out  of  the  hostility  of  the  non- 
combatants  of  the  South.  Upon  this  point  the 
general  also  speaks.  He  says  : 

"But  a  question  also  arises  as  to  dwellings  used  by  women, 
children  and  non-combatants.  So  long  as  non-combatants  remain 
in  their  houses,  and  keep  to  their  accustomed  business,  their 
opinions  and  prejudices  can  in  nowise  influence  the  war,  and, 
therefore,  should  not  be  noticed.  But  if  any  one  comes  out  into 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  427 

the  public  streets,  and  creates  disorder,  he  or  she  should  be  pun 
ished,  restrained  or  banished,  either  to  the  front  or  rear,  as  the 
officer  in  command  adjudges.  If  the  people,  or  any  of  them, 
keep  up  a  correspondence  with  the  parties  in  hostility,  they  are 
spies,  and  can  be  punished  with  death  or  minor  punishment. 

"  To  those  who  submit  to  the  rightful  law  and  authority,  all 
gentleness  and  forbearance;  but  to  the  petulant  and  persistent 
secessionists,  why,  death  is  mercy,  and  the  quicker  he  or  she  is 
disposed  of  the  better.  Satan  and  the  rebellious  saints  of  heaven 
were  allowed  a  continuance  of  existence  in  hell  merely  to  swell 
their  just  punishment.  To  such  as  would  rebel  against  a  gov 
ernment  so  mild  and  just  as  ours  was  in  peace,  a  punishment 
equal  would  not  be  unjust." 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  \ 
IN  THE  FIELD,  NEAR  MARIETTA,  GA.,  June  30,  1864.      J 

MRS.  ANNA  GILMAN  BOWEN, 

Baltimore,  Md. — 

DEAR  MADAM  :  Your  welcome  letter  of  June  18th  came  to  me 
here  amid  the  sound  of  battle,  and,  as  you  say,  little  did  I  dream, 
when  I  knew  you,  playing  as  a  school  girl  on  Sullivan's  Island 
beach,  that  I  should  control  a  vast  army,  pointing,  like  the  swarm 
of  Alaric  toward  the  plains  of  the  South.  Why,  oh,  why  is  this  ? 
If  I  know  my  own  heart,  it  beats  as  warmly  as  ever  toward  those 
kind  and  generous  families  that  greeted  us  with  such  warm  hos 
pitality  in  days  long  past  but  still  present  in  memory ;  and  to-day 
were  Frank  and  Mrs.  Porcher,  and  Eliza  Gilman,  and  Mary  Lamb, 
and  Margaret  Blake,  the  Barksdales,  the  Quashis,  the  Priors, 
indeed  any  and  all  of  our  cherished  circle,  their  children,  or  even 
their  children's  children,  to  come  to  me  as  of  old,  the  stern 
feeling  of  duty  and  conviction  would  melt  as  snow  before  the 
genial  sun,  and  I  believe  I  would  strip  my  own  children  that  they 
might  be  sheltered  ;  and  yet  they  call  me  barbarian,  vandal,  and 
monster,  and  all  the  epithets  that  language  can  invent  that  aro 
significant  of  malignity  and  hate.  All  I  pretend  to  say  is,  on 


428  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

earth  as  in  heaven  man  must  submit  to  some  arbiter.  He  must 
not  throw  off  his  allegiance  to  his  government  or  his  God  without 
just  reason  and  cause.  The  South  had  no  cause  —  not  even  a 
pretext.  Indeed,  by  her  unjustifiable  course,  she  has  thrown 
away  the  proud  history  of  the  past,  and  laid  open  her  fair  country 
to  the  tread  of  devastating  war.  She  bantered  and  bullied  us  to 
the  conflict.  Had  we  declined  battle,  America  would  have  sunk 
back,  coward  and  craven,  meriting  the  contempt  of  all  mankind. 
As  a  nation,  we  were  forced  to  accept  battle,  and  that  once  begun, 
it  has  gone  on  till  the  war  has  assumed  proportions  at  which  even 
we,  in  the  hurly-burly,  sometimes  stand  aghast.  I  would  not 
subjugate  the  South  in  the  sense  so  offensively  assumed,  but  I 
would  make  every  citizen  of  the  land  obey  the  common  law, 
submit  to  the  same  that  we  do  —  no  worse,  no  better — our  equals, 
and  not  our  superiors.  I  know,  and  you  know  that  there  were 
young  men  in  our  day,  now  no  longer  young — but  who  control 
their  fellows — who  assumed  to  the  gentlemen  of  the  South,  a  su 
periority  of  courage  and  manhood,  and  boastingly  defied  us  of 
Northern  birth  to  arms.  God  knows  how  reluctantly  we  accepted 
the  issue,  but  once  the  issue  joined,  like  in  other  ages,  the  Nor 
thern  race,  though  slow  to  anger,  once  aroused,  are  more  terrible 
than  the  more  inflammable  of  the  South.  Even  yet  my  heart  bleeds 
when  I  see  the  carnage  of  battle,  the  desolation  of  homes,  the 
bitter  anguish  of  families,  but  the  very  moment  the  men  of  the 
South  say  that  instead  of  appealing  to  war  they  should  have  ap 
pealed  to  reason,  to.  our  Congress,  to  our  courts,  to  religion,  and 
to  the  experience  of  history,  then  will  I  say  Peace — Peace;  go 
back  to  your  point  of  error,  and  resume  your  places  as  American 
citizens,  with  all  their  proud  heritages.  Whether  I  shall  live  to 
see  this  period  is  problematical,  but  you  may,  and  may  tell  your 
mother  and  sisters  that  I  never  forgot  one  kind  look  or  greeting, 
or  ever  wished  to  efface  its  remembrance  ;  but  in  putting  on  the 
armor  of  war  I  did  it  that  our  common  country  should  not  perish 
in  infamy  and  dishonor.  I  am  married,  I  have  a  wife  and  six 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS. 

children  living  in  Lancaster,  Ohio.  My  course  has  been  an 
eventful  one,  but  I  hope  when  the  clouds  of  anger  and  passion 
are  dispersed  and  truth  emerges  bright  and  clear,  you  and  all  who 
knew  me  in  early  years  will  not  blush  that  we  were  once  dear 
friends.  Tell  Eliza  for  me  that  I  hope  she  may  live  to  realize 
that  the  doctrine  of  "  secession"  is  as  monstrous  in  our  civil  code 
as  disobedience  was  in  the  Divine  law.  And  should  the  fortunes 
of  war  ever  bring  you  or  your  sisters,  or  any  of  our  old  clique 
under  the  shelter  of  my  authority,  I  do  not  believe  they  will  have 
cause  to  regret  it. 

Give  my  love  to  your  children,  and  the  assurance  of  my 
respects  to  your  honored  husband. 

Truly, 

W.  T,  SHERMAN. 

The  reader  should  consider,  without  prejudice, 
the  contents  of  this  chapter. 

Remember  the  gallant  bearing  of  Sherman  at 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run ;  his  efficiency  in  Kentucky 
while  confronting  a  powerful  Confederate  army 
with  a  handful  of  men ;  his  heroic  bearing  on  the 
bloody  field  of  Shiloh,  and  how  he  saved  the  day 
and  the  army  from  destruction ;  his  march  to  and 
the  siege  and  capture  of  Corinth  ;  his  soldierly  and 
fearless  bearing  in  the  campaigns  against  Vicks- 
burg ;  his  long  and  perilous  march  from  Memphis 
to  Chattanooga  ;  see  him  on  the. formidable  heights 
of  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  thun 
dering  away  at  the  enemy  above  the  clouds  ;  follow 
him  in  his  rapid  march  to  the  relief  of  Knoxville 
before  the  blood  and  sweat  of  battle  had  been 


430  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEKMAN, 

wiped  from  Ms  lace ;  then  go  with  him  through 
the  expedition  of  central  Mississippi ;  follow  him 
back  to  Chattanooga,  and  from  thence  through  the 
most  wonderful  campaign  the  world  ever  wit 
nessed;  a  campaign  which  ended  with  the  sur 
render  of  Johnston's  army  to  Sherman  on  the  26th  day 
of  April,  1865,  and  which  gave  the  finishing  blow  to  the 
Rebellion ;  remember  and  consider  all  these  facts, 
and  then  tell  me,  do  you  not  see  in  Major-General 
W.  T.  Sherman  a  patriot,  soldier  and  hero  ?  Un 
der  God,  does  not  our  country  owe  to  this  man  a 
debt  of  gratitude  ? 


CHAPTEE  XVI. 

SHERMAN'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT  AND  FAREWELL  ADDRESS 

THE    MARCH  BY    WAY    OF    RICHMOND    TO    WASHINGTON  — 

THE  GRAND  MILITARY  REVIEW OFFICIAL  REPORT  AND 

FAREWELL  ADDRESS. 

Since  the  previous  chapter  was  written,  the  grand 
army  of  Gen.  Sherman  marched  to  "Washington 
City  by  way  of  Richmond,  Va.,  where  it  took  part 
in  the  most  magnificent  military  review  that  the 
world  has  ever  witnessed,  and  since  that  time 
Sherman  has  issued  his  official  report  and  farewell 
address  to  his  army.  With  these  important  docu 
ments  we  close  this  volume,  leaving  the  reader  free 
to  draw  his  own  conclusions  from  the  statements 
of  General  Sherman. 

GENERAL  SHERMAN'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT. 

[  Published  under  Authority  of  the  Committee  of  Congress  on  the  Conduct 
of  the  War.] 

WASHINGTON,  May  22,  1865. 

Major-General  William  T.  Sherman  sworn  and  examined. 
By  the  Chairman  — 
Q.  What  is  your  rank  in  the  army  ? 
A.  I  am  a  Major-General  in  the  regular  army. 


432  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Q.  As  your  negotiations  with  the  rebel  General  Johnston,  in 
relation  to  his  surrender,  has  been  the  subject  of  much  public 
comment,  the  committee  desire  you  to  state  all  the  facts  and  cir 
cumstances  in  regard  to  it  that  you  deem  of  public  interest,  or 
which  you  wish  the  public  to  know. 

A.  On  the  15th  day  of  April  last  I  was  at  Raleigh,  in  command 
of  an  army  composed  of  three  armies ;  the  Army  of  the  Ohio, 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  the  Army  of  Tennessee.  My 
enemy  was  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  of  the  Confederate  army, 
who  commanded  about  50,000  men,  retreating  along  the  railroad 
from  Raleigh  to  Hillsboro,  Greensboro,  Salisbury  and  Charlotte. 
I  commenced  pursuit  by  crossing  the  curve  of  that  road  in  the 
direction  of  Ashboro  and  Charlotte.  After  the  head  of  my  col 
umn  had  crossed  the  Cape  Fear  River,  at  Aven's  Ferry,  I  received 
a  communication  from  General  Johnston,  and  answered  it ;  copies 
of  which  I  sent  promptly  to  the  War  Department,  with  a  letter 
addressed  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  as  follows : 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  "I 
IN  THE  FIELD,  RALEIGH,  N.  C.,  April  15,  1865.      j 

GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT,  AND  SECRETARY  OF  WAR  : 

I  send  copies  of  a  correspondence  begun  with  General  Johnston, 
which  I  think  will  be  followed  by  terms  of  capitulation.  I  will 
grant  the  same  terms  as  General  Grant  gave  General  Lee,  and  be 
careful  not  to  complicate  any  points  of  civil  policy.  If  any  cav 
alry  has  started  towards  me,  caution  them  that  they  must  be  pre 
pared  to  find  our  work  done.  It  is  now  raining  in  torrents,  and 
I  shall  await  General  Johnston's  reply  here,  and  will  prepare  to 
meet  him  in  person  at  Chapel  Hill. 

I  have  invited  Governor  Vance  to  return  to  Raleigh  with  the 
civil  officers  of  his  State.  I  have  met  ex-Governor  Graham, 
Messrs.  Badger,  Moore,  Holden  and  others,  all  of  whom  agree 
that  the  war  is  over,  and  that  the  States  of  the  South  must  re 
sume  their  allegiance,  subject  to  the  Constitution  and  laws  of 


•AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  433 

Congress,  and  must  submit  to  the  national  arms.     This  great  fact 
once  admitted,  all  the  details  are  easy  of  arrangement. 

(Signed,)  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General. 

I  met  General  Johnston  in  person,  at  a  house  five  miles  from 
Durham  Station,  under  a  flag  of  truce.  After  a  few  preliminary 
remarks,  he  said  to  me,  that  since  Lee  had  surrendered  his  army 
at  Appomattox  Court  House,  of  which  he  had  just  been  advised, 
he  looked  upon  further  opposition  by  him  as  the  greatest  possible 
of  crimes;  that  he  wanted  to  know  whether  I  would  make  him 
any  general  concessions ;  anything  by  which  he  could  maintain 
his  hold  and  control  of  his  army,  and  prevent  its  scattering  ;  any 
thing  to  satisfy  the  great  yearning  of  their  people ;  if  so,  he 
thought  we  could  arrange  terms  satisfactory  to  both  parties.  He 
wanted  to  embrace  the  condition  and  fate  of  all  the  armies  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy,  to  the  Rio  Grande,  "to  make  one  job  of 
it,"  as  he  termed  it. 

I  asked  him  where  his  powers  were,  whether  he  could  command 
and  control  the  fate  of  all  the  armies  to  the  Rio  Grande.  He 
answered,  that  he  thought  he  could  obtain  the  power,  but  he  did 
not  possess  it  at  that  moment.  He  did  not  know  where  Mr.  Davis 
was,  but  he  thought  if  I  would  give  him  time  he  could  find  Mr. 
Breckinridge,  whose  orders  would  be  obeyed  everywhere,  and 
he  could  pledge  to  me  his  personal  faith,  that  whatever  he 
undertook  to  do  would  be  done. 

I  had  had  frequent  correspondence  with  the  late  President  of 
the  United  States,  with  the  Secretary  of  War,  with  General 
Halleck  and  with  General  Grant.  And  the  general  impression 
left  upon  my  mind  was,  that  if  a  settlement  could  be  made,  con 
sistent  with  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  the  laws  of 
Congress,  and  the  Proclamation  of  the  President,  they  would  be 
not  only  willing,  but  pleased,  thus  to  terminate  the  war  by  one 
Single  strode  of  the  pen. 

K* 


434  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

I  needed  time  to  finish  the  railroad  from  the  Neuse  Bridge  up 
to  Kaleigh,  and  thought  I  could  put  in  four  or  five  days'  good  time 
in  making  repairs  to  my  road,  even  if  I  had  to  send  the  propo 
sitions  to  Washington.  I  therefore  consented  to  delay  twenty- 
four  hours,  to  enable  General  Johnston  to  procure  what  would 
satisfy  me  as  to  his  authority  and  ability  as  a  military  man,  to 
do  what  he  undertook  to  do.  I  therefore  consented  to  meet  him 
the  next  day,  the  17th,  at  12  o'clock  noon,  at  the  same  place. 

We  did  meet  again.     After  a  general  interchange  of  courtesies, 
he  remarked  that  he  was  there  prepared  to  satisfy  me  that  he 
could  fulfil  the  terms  of  our  conversation  of  the  day  before.     He 
then  asked  me  what  I  was  willing  to  do.     I  told  him,  in  the  first 
place,  that  I  could  not  deal  with  anybody  except  men  recognized 
by  us  as  belligerents,  because  no  military  man  could  go  beyond 
that  fact.     The  Attorney  General  has  since  so  decided,  and  every 
man  of  common  sense  so  understood  it  before ;  there  was  no  dif 
ference  of  opinion   on  that  point.     As  to   the  men  and  officers 
composing  the  Confederate  armies,  I  told  him  that  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  by  a  published  proclamation,  had  enabled 
every  man  of  the    Southern  Confederate  army,  of  the  rank  of 
colonel  and  under,  to    procure    and   obtain   amnesty,  by  simply 
taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  agreeing 
to  go  to  his  house  and  live  in  peace.     The  terms  of  General  Grant 
to  General  Lee  extended  the  same  principles  to  officers  of  the 
rank  of  brigadier  general   and   upward,  including    the  highest 
officer  in  the  Confederate  army,  viz.,  General  Lee,  the  comman- 
der-in-chief.     I  was  therefore  willing  to  proceed  with  him  upon 
the  same  principles. 

Then  a  conversation  arose  as  to  what  form  of  government  they 
were  to  have  in  the  South.  Were  the  States  there  to  be  dis 
severed?  And  were  the  people  to  be  denied  representation  in 
Congress  ?  Were  the  people  there  to  be,  in  the  common  language 
of  the  people  of  the  South,  the  slaves  of  the  people  of  the  North? 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  435 

Of  course,  I  said,  "  No  ;  we  desire  that  you  shall  regain  your  po 
sitions  as  citizens  of  the  United  States,  free,  and  equal  to  us  in  all 
respects,  and  with  representation  upon  the  condition  of  sub 
mission  to  the  lawful  authority  of  the  United  States,  as  denned 
by  the  Constitution,  the  United  States  Courts,  and  the  authorities 
of  the  United  States,  supported  by  these  courts." 

He  then  remarked  to  me  that  General  Breckinridge,  a  major 
general  in  the  Confederate  army,  was  near  by,  and,  if  I  had  no 
objection,  he  would  like  to  have  him  present.  I  recalled  his  at 
tention  to  the  fact  that  I  had,  on  the  day  before,  explained  to  him. 
that  any  negotiations  between  us  must  be  confined  to  belligerents. 
He  replied  that  he  understood  that  perfectly.  "But,"  said  he, 
"Breckinridge,  whom  you  do  not  know,  save  by  public  rumor  as 
the  Secretary  of  War,  is,  in  fact,  a  major  general."  I  replied, 
"  I  have  no  objection  to  any  military  officer  you  desire  being 
present,  as  a  part  of  your  personal  staff."  I  myself  had  my  own 
officers  near  me  at  call. 

Breckinridge  came,  a  stranger  to  me,  to  whom  I  had  never 
spoken  in  my  life,  and  he  joined  in  the  conversation.  While  that 
conversation  was  being  carried  on,  a  courier  arrived  and  handed 
to  General  Johnston  a  package  of  papers.  He  and  Breckinridge 
sat  down  and  looked  over  them  for  some  time,  and  put  them  away 
in  their  pockets.  What  they  were  I  know  not.  But,  one  was  a 
slip  of  paper,  written,  as  General  Johnston  told  me,  by  Mr. 
Regan,  Postmaster  General  of  the  Southern  Confederacy.  They 
seemed  to  talk  about  it,  sotto  voce,  and  finally  handed  it  to  me.  I 
glanced  over  it.  It  was  preceded  by  a  preamble  and  closed  with 
a  few  general  terms.  I  rejected  it  at  once.  We  then  discussed 
matters  ;  talked  about  slavery  —  talked  about  everything.  There 
was  a  universal  assent  that  slavery  was  as  dead  as  anything  could 
be ;  that  it  was  one  of  the  issues  of  the  war,  long  since  deter 
mined.  And  even  General  Johnston  laughed  at  the  folly  of  the 
Confederate  Government  in  raising  negro  soldiers,  whereby  they 
gave  us  all  the  points  of  the  case.  I  told  them  that  slavery  had 


436  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

been  treated  by  us  as  a  dead  institution,  first  by  one  class  of  men 
from  the  initiation  of  the  war ;  and  then  from  the  date  of  the 
Emancipation  Proclamation  of  President  Lincoln  by  another,  and 
finally  by  the  assent  of  all  parties. 

As  to  reconstruction,  I  told  them  I  did  not  know  what  the  views 
of  the  Administration  were.  Mr.  Lincoln  had,  up  to  that  time,  in 
letters  and  by  telegrams  to  me,  encouraged  me  by  all  the  words 
that  could  be  used  in  general  terms,  to  believe  in,  not  only  his 
willingness,  but  his  desire,  that  I  should  make  terms  with  civil 
authorities,  governors  and  legislators ;  even  as  far  back  as  1863. 
It  then  occurred  to  me  that  I  might  write  off  some  general  prop 
ositions,  meaning  little  or  meaning  much,  according  to  the  con 
struction  of  parties  ;  what  I  would  term  "  glittering  generalities," 
and  send  them  to  Washington,  which  I  could  do  in  four  days. 
That  would  enable  the  new  President  to  give  me  a  cue  to  his 
policy  in  the  important  juncture  which  was  then  upon  us.  For 
the  war  was  over.  The  highest  military  authorities  of  the  South 
ern  Confederacy  so  confessed  to  me,  openly,  unconcealedly  and 
repeatedly. 

I  therefore  drew  up  the  memorandum  (which  has  been  pub 
lished  to  the  world, )  for  the  purpose  of  referring  it  to  the  proper 
authority  of  the  United  States,  and  enabling  him  to  define  to  me 
what  I  might  promise,  simply  to  cover  the  pride  of  the  Southern 
men,  who  thereby  became  subordinate  to  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  civil  and  military.  I  made  no  concessions  to  General 
Johnston's  army,  of  the  troops  under  his  direction  and  immediate 
control.  And  if  any  concessions  were  made  in  those  general 
terms,  they  were  made  because  I  then  believed,  and  I  now  believe, 
they  would  have  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  United  States 
the  absolute  control  of  every  Confederate  officer  and  soldier,  all 
their  muster-rolls  and  all  their  arms.  It  would  save  us  all  the  inci 
dental  expenses  resulting  from  the  military  occupation  of  that 
country  by  provost  marshals,  provost  guards,  military  governors 
and  all  the  machinery  by  which  alone  military  power  can  reach 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  437 

the  people  of  a  civilized  country.  It  would  have  surrendered  to 
us  the  armies  of  Dick  Taylor  and  Kirby  Smith,  both  of  them  ca 
pable  of  doing  infinite  mischief  to  us  by  exhausting  the  resources 
of  the  whole  country  upon  which  we  were  to  depend  for  the 
future  extinguishment  of  our  debt,  forced  upon  us  by  their 
wrongful  and  rebellious  conduct. 

I  never  designed  to  shelter  any  human  being  from  any  liability 
incurred,  in  consequence  of  past  acts,  to  the  civil  tribunals  of  our 
country ;  and  I  do  not  believe  a  fair  and  manly  interpretation  of 
my  terms  can  so  construe  them,  for  the  words  "  United  States 
CourtSj"  "United  States  authorities,"  "limitations  of  Executive 
power,"  occur  in  every  paragraph. 

And  if  they  seemingly  yield  terms  better  than  the  public  would 
desire  to  be  given  to  the  Southern  people,  if  studied  clearly  and 
well,  it  will  be  found  that  there  is  an  abundant  submission  on 
their  part  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  either  through 
its  executive,  legislative  or  judicial  authorities.  Every  step  in 
the  progress  of  these  negotiations  was  reported  punctually, 
clearly  and  fully  by  the  most  rapid  means  of  communication  that 
I  had.  And  yet  I  neglected  not  one  single  precaution  to  reap 
the  full  benefits  of  my  position,  in  case  the  Government  amended, 
altered  or  absolutely  annulled  these  terms. 

As  these  matters  are  necessarily  mingled  with  the  military  his 
tory  of  the  period,  I  would  like,  at  this  point,  to  submit  to  the 
committee  my  official  report,  which  has  been  in  the  hands  of  the 
proper  officer,  viz :  General  Rawlings,  Chief  of  Staff  of  the 
Army  of  the  United  States,  since  about  the  12th  instant.  It  was 
made  by  me  at  Manchester,  Va.,  after  I  had  returned  from  Sa 
vannah,  whither  I  went  to  open  up  the  Savannah  River  and  reap 
the  fruits  of  my  negotiations  with  General  Johnston,  and  to 
give  General  Wilson,  far  in  the  interior,  a  safe  and  sure  base 
from  which  he  could  draw  the  necessary  supply  of  clothing  and 
food  for  his  command. 


438 

It  was  only  after  I  had  fulfilled  all  this  that  I  learned,  for  the 
first  time,  through  the  public  press,  that  my  conduct  had  been 
animadverted  upon,  not  only  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  but  by 
General  Halleck  and  the  press  of  the  country  at  large.  I  did 
feel  hurt  and  wronged  that  Mr.  Stanton  coupled  with  the  terms 
of  my  memorandum  confided  to  him,  a  copy  of  a  telegram  to 
General  Grant  which  he  had  never  sent  to  me.  He  knew,  on  the 
contrary,  that  when  he  was  at  Savannah  I  had  negotiations 
with  civil  parties  there,  for  he  was  present  in  my  room  when 
those  parties  were  conferring  with  me,  and  I  wrote  him  a  letter 
setting  forth  many  points  of  it,  in  which  I  said  I  aimed  to  make 
a  split  in  Jeff.  Davis'  dominions,  segregating  Georgia  from  their 
cause.  Those  were  civil  negotiations,  and  far  from  being  dis 
couraged  from  making  them,  I  was  encouraged  by  Secretary 
Stanton  himself  to  make  them. 

By  coupling  the  note  to  General  Grant  with  my  memorandum, 
he  gave  the  world  fairly  and  clearly  to  infer  that  I  was  in  pos 
session  of  it.  Now,  I  was  not  in  possession  of  it,  and  have 
reason  to  know  that  Mr.  Stanton  knew  I  was  not  in  possession 
of  it. 

Next  met  me,  General  Halleck's  telegram,  indorsed  by  Mr. 
Stanton,  in  which  they  publicly  avowed  an  act  of  perfidy,  viz : 
the  violation  of  my  truce,  which  I  had  a  right  to  make,  and 
which,  by  the  laws  of  war,  and  by  the  laws  of  Congress,  is 
punishable  by  death,  and  no  other  punishment. 

Next  they  ordered  an  army  to  pursue  my  enemy,  who  was 
known  to  be  surrendering  to  me,  in  the  presence  of  General 
Grant  himself,  their  superior  oificer,  and  finally  they  sent  orders 
to  General  Wilson  and  to  General  Thomas,  my  subordinates,  act 
ing  under  me  on  a  plan  of  the  most  magnificent  scale,  admirably 
executed,  to  defeat  my  orders  and  to  thwart  the  interests  of  the 
Government  of  the  United  States. 

I  did  feel  indignant ;  I  do  feel  indignant.  As  to  my  own  honor, 
I  can  protect  it.  In  my  letter  of  the  15th  of  April,  I  used  this 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  439 

language  :  "  I  have  invited  Governor  Vance  to  return  to  Raleigh 
with  the  civil  officers  of  his  State."  I  did  so  because  President 
Lincoln  had  himself  encouraged  me  to  a  similar  course  with  the 
Governor  of  Georgia,  when  I  was  in  Atlanta.  And  here  was  the 
opportunity  which  the  Secretary  of  War  should  have  taken  to  put 
me  on  my  guard  against  negotiations  with  civil  authorities,  if  such 
were  the  settled  policy  of  our  Government,  Had  President 
Lincoln  lived,  I  know  he  would  have  sustained  me. 

The  following  is  my  report,  which  I  desire  to  have  incorporated 
into  and  made  a  part  of  my  testimony: 

.    REPORT. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 
IN  THE  FIELD,  CITY  POINT,  Va.,  May  9,  1865.      / 

General  JOHN  A.  RAWLINGS,  Chief  of  Staff,  Washington,  D.  C. : 

GENERAL — My  last  official  report  brought  the  history  of  events, 
as  connected  with  the  armies  in  the  field,  subject  to  my  immediate 
command,  down  to  the  1st  of  April,  when  the  Army  of  the  Ohio, 
Major  General  J.  M.  Schoficld  commanding,  lay  at  Goldsboro, 
with  detachments  distributed  so  as  to  secure  and  cover  our  routes 
of  communication  and  supply,  back  to  the  sea  at  Wilmington  and 
Morehead  City;  Major  General  A.  H.  Terry,  with  the  Tenth  Corps, 
being  at  Faxon's  Depot.  The  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  Major  Gen 
eral  0.  0.  Howard  commanding,  was  encamped  to  the  front  and 
right  of  Goldsboro,  and  the  Army  of  the  Georgia,  Major  General  H. 
W.  Slocum  commanding,  to  its  left  and  front.  The  cavalry,  Brevet 
Major  General  Kilpatrick  commanding,  at  Mount  Olive.  All  were 
busy  in  repairing  the  wear  and  tear  of  our  then  recent  hard 
march  from  Savannah,  and  in  replenishing  clothing  and  stores 
necessary  for  a  further  progress.  I  had  previously,  by  letter 
and  in  person,  notified  the  lieutenant  general  commanding  the 
armies  of  the  United  States,  that  the  10th  of  April  would  be 
the  earliest  possible  moment  at  which  I  could  hope  to  have  all 
things  in  readiness,  and  we  were  compelled  to  use  our  railroads 
to  the  very  highest  possible  limit,  in  order  to  fulfil  that  promise. 


440  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Owing  to  a  mistake  in  the  railroad  department  in  sending  loco 
motives  and  cars  of  the  five  foot  gauge,  we  were  limited  to  thf» 
use  of  the  few  locomotives  and  cars  of  the  four  feet  eight  and  a 
half  inch  guage,  already  in  North  Carolina,  with  such  of  the  old 
stock  as  was  captured  by  Major  General  Terry  at  Wilmington  and 
on  his  way  up  to  Goldsboro.  Yet  such  a  judicious  use  was  made 
of  them,  and  such  industry  displayed  in  the  railroad  management 
by  Generals  Easton  and  Beckwith,  and  Colonel  Wright  and  Mr. 
Van  Dyne,  that  by  the  10th  of  April  our  men  were  all  i.eelad,  the 
wagons  reloaded,  and  a  fair  amount  of  forage  accumnle&ipd  ahead. 
In  the  meantime,  Major  General  George  Stoneman,  In.  command 
of  a  division  of  cavalry,  operating  from  East  Tennessee,  in  con 
nection  with  Major  General  George  H.  Thomas,  in  pursuance  of 
my  orders,  had  reached  the  railroad  at  Greensboro,  N.  C.,  and 
had  made  sad  havoc  with  it ;  and  had  pushed  along  it  to  Salis 
bury,  destroying  en  route  bridges,  culverts,  depots,  and  all  kinds 
of  rebel  supplies,  and  had  extended  the  breach  in  the  railroad 
down  to  the  Catawba  Bridge.  This  was  fatal  to  the  hostile  armies 
of  Lee  and  Johnston,  who  depended  on  that  road  for  supplies, 
and  as  their  ultimate  line  of  retreat.  Brevet  Major  General 
Wilson,  also  in  command  of  the  cavalry  corps,  organized  by  him 
self,  under  special  field  orders  No.  —  of  — ,  in  1864,  at  Gayles- 
ville,  Alabama,  had  started  from  the  neighborhood  of  Decatur 
and  Florence,  Alabama,  and  moved  straight  into  the  heart  of 
Alabama,  on  a  route  prescribed  for  General  Thomas,  after  he 
had  defeated  Hood  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  But  the  roads  being 
too  heavy  for  infantry,  General  Thomas  had  devolved  the  duty  on 
that  most  energetic  young  cavalry  officer,  General  Wilson,  who, 
imbued  with  the  proper  spirit,  has  struck  one  of  the  best  blows 
of  the  war  at  the  waning  strength  of  the  Confederacy.  His 
route  was  one  never  before  touched  by  our  troops,  and  afforded 
him  abundant  supplies  as  long  as  he  was  in  motion,  viz. :  by  Tus- 
caloosa,  Selma,  Montgomery,  Columbus  and  Macon.  Though  in 
communication  with  him,  I  have  not  been  able  to  receive  as  yet 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  441 

his  full  and  detailed  reports,  which  will  in  due  time  be  published 
and  appreciated. 

Lieutenant  General  Grant,  also  in  immediate  command  of  the 
armies  about  Richmond,  had  taken  the  initiative  in  that  magnifi 
cent  campaign  which,  in  less  than  ten  days,  compelled  the  evacua 
tion  of  Richmond,  and  resulted  in  the  destruction  and  surrender 
of  the  entire  rebel  Army  of  Virginia,  under  command  of  General 
Lee.  The  news  of  the  battles  about  Petersburg  reached  me  at 
Goldsboro  on  the  6th  of  April.  Up  to  that  time  my  purpose  was 
to  move  rapidly  northward,  feigning  on  Raleigh,  and  striking 
straight  for  Burkesville,  thereby  interposing  between  Johnston 
and  Lee.  But  the  auspicious  events  in  Virginia  had  changed  the 
whole  military  problem,  and  in  the  expressive  language  df 
LieutenafeS  General  Grant,  the  "  Confederate  armies  of  Lee  and 
Johnston*"  became  the  "  stragetic  points."  General  Grant  was 
fully  able  to  take  care  of  the  former,  and  my  task  was  to  destroy 
or  capture  the  latter. 

Johnston,  at  the  time,  April  6,  had  his  army  well  in  hand  about 
Smithfield,  interposing  between  me  and  Raleigh.  I  estimated  his 
infantry  and  artillery  at  thirty-five  thousand  (35,000),  and  his 
cavalry  at  from  six  to  ten  thousand  (0,000  to  10,000).  He  was 
superior  to  me  in  cavalry,  so  that  I  held  General  Kilpatrick  in 
reserve  at  Mount  Olive,  with  orders  to  recruit  his  horses,  and  be 
ready  to  make  a  sudden  and  rapid  march  on  the  10th  of  April. 

At  daybreak  on  the  day  appointed,  all  the  heads  of  columns 
were  in  motion  straight  against  the  enemy;  Major  General  Slo- 
cum  taking  the  two  direct  roads  for  Smithfield,  Major  General 
0.  0.  Howard  making  a  circuit  by  the  right  and  feigning  up  the 
Weldon  Road  to  disconcert  the  enemy's  cavalry;  Generals  Terry 
and  Kilpatrick  moving  on  the  west  side  of  the  Neuse  River,  and 
to  reach  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  between  Smithfield  and  Raleigh. 
General  Schofield  followed  General  Slocum  in  person.  All  the 
columns  met,  within  six  miles  of  Goldsboro,  more  or  less  cavalry, 
with  the  usual  rail  barricades,  which  were  swept  before  us  as 


442  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

chaff.  And  by  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  llth,  ilv  Four 
teenth  Corps  entered  Smithfield,  the  Twentieth  Corps  rLose.at 
hand.  Johnston  had  rapidly  retreated  across  the  Neure  Xiver, 
and,  having  his  railroad  to  lighten  up  his  trains,  couH  i.ctreat 
faster  than  we  could  pursue.  The  rains  had  also  set  in,  making 
the  resort  to  corduroy  absolutely  necessary,  to  pass  even  ambu 
lances.  The  enemy  had  burned  the  bridge  at  Smithfield,  and,  :  ' 
soon  as  possible,  Major  General  Slocum  got  up  his  pontoons,  ar 
crossed  over  a  division  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps. 

We  there  heard  of  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army,  at  Appomatto: 
Court  House,  Virginia,  which  was  announced  to  the  armies  ii- 
orders,  and  created  universal  joy.  Not  an  officer  or  soldier  of 
my  armies  but  expressed  a  satisfaction  that  it  had  fallen  to  the 
lot  of  the  Armies  of  the  Potomac  and  James  so  gloriously  to 
overwhelm  and  capture  the  entire  army  that  had  held  them  in 
check  so  long;  and  their  success  gave  a  new  impulse  to  finish  up 
our  task. 

Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  we  dropped  our  trains,  and 
marched  rapidly  in  pursuit  to  and  through  Raleigh,  reaching 
that  place  at  half-past  seven  in  the  morning,  on  the  13th,  in  a 
heavy  rain.  The  next  day  the  cavalry  passed  on  through  the  rain 
to  Durham's  Station,  the  Fifteenth  Corps  following  as  far  as  Mor- 
risville  Station,  and  the  Seventeenth  to  Jones'  Station.  On  the 
supposition  that  Johnston  was  tied  to  his  railroad,  as  a  line  of 
retreat  by  Hillsboro,  Greensboro,  Salisbury  and  Charlotte,  I  had 
turned  the  other  columns  across  the  head  of  that  road  toward 
Ashboro  (see  special  field  orders,  No.  55).  The  cavalry,  Brevet 
Major  General  J.  Kilpatrick  commanding,  was  ordered  to  keep  up 
a  show  of  pursuit  toward  the  "Company's  Shops,"  in  Alamancer 
county  ;  Major  General  0.  0.  Howard  to  turn  the  left  by  Hackney's 
Cross  Roads,  Pittsboro,  St.  Lawrence  and  Ashboro;  Major  Gen 
eral  H.W.  Slocum  to  cross  Cape  Fear  River  at  Aven's  Ferry,  and 
move  rapidly  by  Carthage,  Caledonia  and  Cox's  Mills;  Major 
General  J.  W.  Schofield  was  to  hold  Raleigh  and  the  road  back, 
and  with  his  spare  force  to  follow  an  intermediate  ronte. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS. 

By  the  15th,  though  the  rains  were  incessant,  and  the  roads 
almost  impracticable,  Major  General  Slocum  had  the  Fourteenth 
Corps,  Brevet  Major  General  Davis  commanding,  near  Martha's 
Vineyard,  with  a  pontoon  bridge  laid  across  Cape  Fear  River  at 
Aven's  Ferry,  with  the  Twentieth  Corps,  Major  General  Mower 
commanding,  in  support;  and  Major  General  Howard  had  the 
Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth  Corps  stretched  out  on  the  roads 
toward  Pittsboro,  while  General  Kilpatrick  held  Durham  Station 
and  Chapel  Hill  University.  Johnston's  army  was  retreating 
rapidly  on  the  roads  from  Hillsboro  to  Greensboro,  he  himself  at 
Greensboro. 

Although  out  of  place,  as  to  time,  I  here  invite  all  military 
critics  who  study  the  problems  of  war,  to  take  their  maps  and 
compare  the  position  of  my  army,  on  the  15th  and  16th  of  April, 
with  that  of  General  Halleck,  about  Burkesville  and  Petersburg, 
Virginia,  on  the  26th  of  April,  when,  according  to  his  telegram 
to  Secretary  Stanton,  he  offered  to  relieve  me  of  the  task  of  cut 
ting  off  Johnston's  retreat.  Major  General  Stoneman,  at  the 
time,  was  at  Statesville,  and  Johnston's  only  line  of  retreat  was 
by  Salisbury  and  Charlotte.  It  may  be  that  General  Halleck's 
troops  can  out-march  mine,  but  there  is  nothing  in  their  past 
history  to  show  it.  Or,  it  may  be  that  General  Halleck  can 
inspire  his  troops  with  more  energy  of  action.  I  doubt  that, 
also,  save  and  except  in  this  single  instance,  when  he  knew  the 
enemy  was  ready  to  surrender  or  "  disperse,"  as  advised  by  letter 
of  April  18,  addressed  to  him  when  chief  of  staff,  at  Washington 
City,  and  delivered  into  his  hands  by  Major  Hitchcock,  of  my 
army. 

Thus  matters  stood  at  the  time  I  received  General  Johnston's 
first  letter  and  made  my  answer  of  April  14th,  copies  of  which  were 
sent,  with  all  expedition,  to  Lieutenant  General  Grant  and  the 
Secretary  of  War,  with  my  letter  of  April  15th.  I  agreed  to  meet 
General  Johnston,  in  person,  at  a  point  intermediate  between  our 
pickets,  on  the  17th,  at  noon,  provided  the  position  of  the  troops 


444  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

remained  statu  quo.  I  was  both  willing  and  anxious  thus  to  con 
sume  a  few  days,  as  it  would  enable  Colonel  Wright  to  finish  our 
railroad  to  Raleigh.  Two  bridges  had  to  be  built  and  twelve 
miles  of  new  road  made.  We  had  no  iron,  except  by  taking  up 
that  on  the  march  from  Goldsboro  to  Weldon.  Instead  of  losing 
time,  I  gained  in  every  way  ;  for  every  hour  of  delay  possible  was 
required  to  reconstruct  the  railroad  to  our  rear  and  improve  the 
condition  of  our  wagon  roads  to  the  front,  so  desirable  in  case 
the  negotiations  failed,  and  we  be  forced  to  make  the  race  of 
near  two  hundred  miles  to  head  off  or  catch  Johnston,  then 
retreating  toward  Charlotte. 

At  noon  of  the  day  appointed,  I  met  General  Johnston  for  the 
iirst  time  in  my  life,  although  we  had  been  exchanging  shots 
constantly  since  May,  1863.  Our  interview  was  frank  and  soldier 
like,  and  he  gave  me  to  understand  that  further  war  on  the  part 
of  the  Confederate  troops  was  folly,  that  "the  cause"  was  lost, 
and  that  every  life  sacrificed  after  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army 
was  the  highest  possible  crime.  He  admitted  that  the  terms  con 
ceded  to  General  Lee  were  magnanimous,  and  all  he  could  ask ; 
feut  he  did  want  some  general  concessions,  that  would  enable  him 
to  allay  the  natural  fears  and  anxieties  of  his  followers,  and  enable 
him  to  maintain  his  control  over  them  until  they  could  be  got 
back  to  the  neighborhood  of  their  homes,  thereby  saving  the 
State  of  North  Carolina  the  devastation  inevitably  to  result  from 
turning  his  men  loose  and  impoverished  on  the  spot ;  and  our 
pursuit  across  the  State.  He  also  wanted  to  embrace  in  the  same 
general  proposition  the  fate  of  all  the  Confederate  armies  that 
remained  in  existence.  I  never  made  any  concession  as  to  his 
own  army,  or  assumed  to  deal  finally  and  authoritatively  in  regard 
to  any  other.  But  it  did  seem  to  me  that  there  was  presented  a 
chance  for  peace  that  might  be  deemed  valuable  to  the  Govern 
ment  of  the  United  States,  and  was  at  least  worthy  the  few  days 
that  would  be  consumed  in  reference.  To  push  an  army,  whose 
commander  had  so  frankly  and  honestly  confessed  his  inability  to 
cope  with  me,  were  cowardly  and  unworthy  the  brave  men  I  led. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  445 

Inasmuch  as  General  Johnston  did  not  feel  authorized  to  pledge 
his  power  over  the  armies  in  Texas,  we  adjourned  to  meet  the 
next  day  at  noon.  I  returned  to  Raleigh,  and  conferred  freely 
with  my  general  officers,  every  one  of  whom  urged  me  to  concede 
terms  that  might  accomplish  so  complete  and  desirable  an  end. 
All  dreaded  the  weary  and  laborious  march  after  the  fugitive 
and  disbanding  army  back  toward  Georgia,  over  the  very  country 
where  we  had  toiled  so  long.  There  was  but  one  opinion  ex 
pressed,  and  if  contrary  ones  were  entertained,  they  were  with 
held,  or  indulged  in  only  by  that  class  who  shun  the  fight  and 
the  march,  but  are  loudest,  bravest,  and  fiercest,  when  danger  is 
past. 

I  again  met  General  Johnston  on  the  18th,  and  we  renewed  the 
conversation.  He  satisfied  me  then  of  his  power  to  disband  the 
rebel  armies  in  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana  and  Texas,  as 
well  as  those  in  his  immediate  command,  viz :  North  Carolina, 
South  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Florida.  The  points  on  which  he 
expressed  especial  solicitude  were  lest  their  States  should  be  dis 
membered  and  denied  representation  in  Congress,  or  any  separate 
political  existence  whatever ;.  and  the  absolute  disarming  of  his 
men  would  leave  the  South  powerless,  and  exposed  to  depredations 
by  wicked  bands  of  assassins  and  robbers. 

The  President's  (Lincoln's)  Message  of  1864;  his  Amnesty 
Proclamation ;  General  Grant's  terms  to  General  Lee,  substan 
tially  extending  the  benefit  of  that  proclamation  to  all  officers 
above  the  rank  of  a  colonel ;  the  invitation  to  the  Virginia  Legis 
lature  to  reassemble  in  Richmond,  by  General  AVeitzel,  with  the 
supposed  approval  of  Mr.  Lincoln  and  General  Grant,  then  on 
the  spot;  a  firm  belief  that  I  had  been  fighting  to  reestablish  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  last,  but  not  least,  the  gen 
eral  and  universal  desire  to  close  a  war  any  longer  without  organ 
ized  resistance,  were  the  leading  facts  that  induced  me  to  pen  the 
"memorandum"  of  April  18th,  signed  by  myself  and  General 
Johnston.  It  was  designed  to  be,  and  so  expressed  on  its  face, 
L* 


446 

as  a  mere  "basis"  for  reference  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States  and  constitutional  commander-in-chief,  to  enable  him,  if 
he  chose,  at  one  blow  to  dissipate  the  military  power  of  the  Con 
federacy,  which  had  threatened  the  national  safety  for  years.  It 
admitted  of  modification,  alteration  and  change.  It  had  no 
appearance  of  an  ultimatum,  and  by  no  false  reasoning  can  it  be 
construed  into  an  usurpation  of  power  on  my  part.  I  have  my 
opinion  on  the  questions  involved,  "and  will  stand  by  the 
memorandum  •"  but  this  forms  no  part  of  a  military  report. 

Immediately  on  my  return  to  Raleigh,  I  dispatched  one  of  my 
staff,  Major  Hitchcock,  to  Washington,  enjoining  him  to  be  most 
prudent,  and  careful  to  avoid  the  spies  and  informers  that  would 
be  sure  to  invest  him  by  the  way,  and  to  say  nothing  to  anybody 
until  the  President  could  make  known  to  me  his  feelings  and 
wishes  in  the  matter. 

The  news  of  President  Lincoln's  assassination  (wrongly  reported 
to  me,  by  telegraph,  as  having  occurred  on  the  llth,)  reached  me 
on  the  17th,  and  was  announced  to  my  command  on  the  same  day, 
in  field  orders  No.  56.  I  was  duly  impressed  with  its  horrible 
atrocity  and  probable  effect  on  the  country.  But  when  the  pro 
perty  and  interests  of  millions  still  living  were  involved,  I  saw 
no  good  reason  why  to  change  my  course,  but  thought  rather  to 
manifest  real  respect  for  his  memory  by  following,  after  his  death, 
that  policy  which,  if  living,  I  felt  certain  he  would  have  approved, 
or  at  least  not  rejected  with  disdain. 

Up  to  that  hour  I  had  never  received  one  word  of  instruction, 
advice  or  counsel,  as  to  the  plan  or  policy  of  the  Government, 
looking  to  a  restoration  of  peace  on  the  part  of  the  rebel  States 
of  the  South.  Whenever  asked  for  an  opinion  on  the  points  in 
volved,  I  had  always  evaded  the  subject.  My  letter  to  the  Mayor 
of  Atlanta  has  been  published  to  the  world,  and  I  was  not  relieved 
by  the  War  Department  for  it.  My  letter  to  Mr. ,  of  Savan 
nah,  was  shown  by  me  to  Mr.  Stanton,  before  its  publication,  and 
all  that  my  memory  retains  of  his  answer  is,  that  he  said,  like 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  447 

my  Utters  generally,  it  was  sufficiently  "  emphatic,  and  could  riot 
Ibe  misunderstood."  Both  of  these  letters  asserted  my  belief 
that,  according  to  Mr.  Lincoln's  proclamations  and  messages, 
when  the  people  of  the  South  had  laid  down  their  arms,  and 
submitted  to  the  lawful  power  of  the  United  States,  ipso  facto  the 
war  was  over  as  to  them ;  and  furthermore,  that  if  any  State  in 
rebellion  would  conform  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
"cease  war,"  elect  senators  and  representatives  to  Congress,  if 
admitted,  (of  which  each  House  of  Congress  alone  is  the  judge,) 
that  State  becomes  instanter  as  much  in  the  Union  as  New  York 
or  Ohio.  Nor  was  I  rebuked  for  these  expressions,  though  it  was 
universally  known  and  commented  on  at  the  time.  And,  again, 
Mr.  Stanton  in  person,  at  Savannah,  speaking  of  the  terrific  ex 
pense  of  the  war,  and  difficulty  of  realizing  the  money  for  the 
daily  wants  of  Government,  impressed  me  most  forcibly  with  the 
necessity  of  bringing  the  war  to  a  close  as  soon  as  possible,  for 
financial  reasons. 

On  the  evening  of  April  23d,  Major  Hitchcock  reported  his 
return  to  Morehead  City  with  dispatches,  of  which  fact  General 
Johnston,  at  Hillsboro,  was  notified,  so  as  to  be  ready  in  the 
morning  for  an  answer.  At  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
24th,  Major  Hitchcock  arrived,  accompanied  by  General  Grant 
and  members  of  his  staff,  who  had  not  telegraphed  the  fact  of 
his  coming  over  our  exposed  roads,  for  prudential  reasons.  I 
soon  learned  that  the  memorandum  was  disapproved,  without 
reasons  assigned,  and  I  was  ordered  to  give  the  forty-eight  hours' 
notice,  and  resume  hostilities  at  the  close  of  that  time  ;  governing 
myself  by  the  substance  of  a  dispatch,  then  inclosed,  dated  March 
3d,  twelve  o'clock  noon,  at  Washington,  D.  C  ,from  Secretary  Stan- 
ton  to  General  Grant,  at  City  Point,  but  not  accompanied  by  any 
part  of  the  voluminous  matter  so  liberally  lavished  on  the  public 
inthe  New  York  journals  of  the  24th  of  April.  That  was  the  first 
and  only  time  I  ever  saw  that  telegram,  or  had  one  word  of  in 
structions  on  the  important  matters  involved  in  it.  And  it  does 


448 

seem  strange  to  me  that  every  bar-room  loafer  in  New  York  can 
read  in  the  morning  journals  "official"  matter  that  is  withheld 
from  a  general  whose  command  extends  from  Kentucky  to  North 
Carolina. 

Within  an  hour  a  courier  was  riding  from  Durham  Station  to 
ward  Hillsboro,  with  notice  to  General  Johnston  of  the  suspension 
of  the  truce,  and  renewing  my  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the 
command,  (see  two  dispatches  of  April  24th,  six  o'clock  in  the 
morning,)  and  at  twelve  at  noon  I  had  the  receipt  of  his  picket 
officer.  I  therefore  published  my  orders,  No.  62,  to  the  troops,  ter 
minating  my  truce  at  twelve  at  noon,  on  the  26th,  and  ordered  all 
to  be  in  readiness  to  march  at  that  hour,  on  the  routes  prescribed 
in  special  field  orders  No.  55,  of  April  14th,  from  the  positions  held 
April  18th.  General  Grant  had  orders  from  the  President  to  direct 
military  movements,  and  I  explained  to  him  the  exact  position  of 
the  troops,  and  he  approved  of  it  most  emphatically;  but  he  did 
not  relieve  me  or  express  a  wish  to  assume  command. 

All  things  were  in  readiness,  when  on  the  evening  of  the  25th, 
]  received  another  letter  from  General  Johnston,  asking  another 
interview  to  renew  negotiations.  General  Grant  not  only  ap 
proved,  but  urged  me  to  accept,  and  I  appointed  a  meeting  at  our 
former  place,  at  noon  of  the  26th,  the  very  hour  fixed  for  the  re 
newal  of  hostilities.  General  Johnston  was  delayed  by  an 
accident  to  his  train,  but  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  arrived, 

We  then  consulted,  concluded  and  signed,  the  final  terms  of  ca 
pitulation.  These  were  taken  by  me  back  to  Raleigh,  submitted 
to  General  Grant,  and  met  his  immediate  approval  and  signature. 
General  Johnston  was  not  even  aware  of  the  presence  of  General 
Grant  at  Raleigh  at  the  time.  There  was  surrendered  to  us  the 
fcecond  great  army  of  the  so-called  Confederacy  ;  and,  though  un 
due  importance  has  been  given  the  so-called  "negotiations" 
which  preceded  it,  and  a  rebuke  and  public  disfavor  cast  upon 
me  entirely  unwarranted  by  the  facts,  I  rejoice  in  saying  that  it 
was  accomplished  without  further  ruin  and  devastation  to  the 


AND    HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  449 

country — without  the  loss  of  a  single  life  to  those  gallant  men 
who  had  followed  me  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Atlantic  ;  and 
without  subjecting  brave  men  to  the  ungracious  task  of  pursuing 
a  fleeing  foe  that  did  not  want  to  fight.  As  for  myself,  I  know 
my  motives,  and  challenge  the  instance  during  the  past  four  years, 
when  an  armed  and  defiant  foe  stood  before  me  that  I  did  not  go 
in  for  a  fight.  And  I  would  blush  for  shame  if  I  had  ever  in 
sulted  or  struck  a  fallen  foe.  The  instant  the  terms  of  surrender 
were  approved  by  General  Grant  I  made  my  orders  No.  56,  as 
signing  to  each  of  my  subordinate  commanders  his  share  of  the 
work,  and  with  General  Grant's  approval,  made  special  field  or 
ders  No.  66,  putting  in  motion  my  old  army,  no  longer  required 
in  Carolina,  northward  for  Richmond. 

General  Grant  left  Raleigh  at  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
27th,  and  I  glory  in  the  fact  that  during  his  three  days'  stay  with 
me,  I  did  not  detect  in  his  language  or  manner  one  particle  of 
abatement  of  the  confidence,  respect  and  affection  that  have  ex 
isted  between  us  throughout  all  the  various  events  O.f  the  past 
war ;  and  though  we  have  honestly  differed  in  other  cases  as  well 
as  this,  still  we  respect  each  other's  honest  convictions.  I  still 
adhere  to  my  then  opinions,  that  by  a  few  general  concessions  — 
" glittering  generalities"  —  all  of  which  in  the  end  must  and  will 
be  conceded  to  the  organized  States  of  the  South,  this  day  there 
would  not  be  an  armed  battalion  opposed  to  us  within  the  broad 
area  of  the  dominions  of  the  United  States.  Robbers  and  as 
sassins  must,  in  any  event,  result  from  the  disbandment  of  large 
armies,  but  even  these  would  be,  and  can  be,  taken  care  of  by  the 
local  civil  authorities,  without  being  made  a  charge  upon  the 
national  treasury. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  having  concluded  all  business  re 
quiring  my  personal  attention  at  Raleigh,  and  having  conferred 
with  every  army  commander,  and  delegated  to  him  the  authority 
necessary  for  his  future  action,  I  dispatched  my  headquarters 
wagons  by  land  along  with  the  Seventeenth  Corps,  the  office  in 


450 

charge  of  General  "Webster,  to  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  in  person, 
accompanied  only  by  my  personal  staff,  hastened  to  Savannah,  to 
direct  matters  in  the  interior  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina. 

I  had  received  across  the  rebel  telegraph  wires,  cypher  dis 
patches  from  General  Wilson  to  the  effect  that  he  was  in  receipt 
of  my  order,  No.  35.  and  would  send  General  Upton's  division  to 
Augusta,  and  General  McCook's  division  to  Tallahassee,  to  receive 
the  surrender  of  those  garrisons,  take  charge  of  the  public  prop 
erty,  and  execute  the  paroles  required  by  the  terms  of  surrender. 
He  reported  a  sufficiency  of  forage  for  his  horses  in  Southwest 
Georgia,  but  asked  me  to  send  him  a  supply  of  clothing,  sugar, 
coffee,  etc.,  by  way  of  Augusta,  Georgia,  where  he  could  get  it  by 
rail.  1  therefore  went  rapidly  to  Goldsboro  and  Wilmington, 
reaching  the  latter  city  at  ten  in  the  morning  of  the  29th,  and  the 
same  day  embarked  for  Hilton  Head  on  the  blockade  runner 
Russie,  Captain  A.  H.  Smith. 

I  found  General  Q.  A.  Gillmore,  commanding  Department  of  the 
South,  at  Hilton  Head,  on  the  evening  of  April  30th,  and  ordered 
him  to  send  to  Augusta  at  once,  what  clothing  and  small  stores 
he  could  spare,  for  General  Wilson,  and  to  open  up  a  line  of  cer 
tain  communication  and  supply  with  him  at  Macon.  Within  an 
hour,  the  captured  steamboats  Jeff.  Davis  and  Amazon,  well 
adapted  to  the  shallow  and  crooked  navigation  of  the  Savannah 
River,  were  being  loaded;  the  one  at  Savannah  and  the  other  at 
Hilton  Head.  The  former  started  up  the  river  on  the  1st  of  May, 
in  charge  of  a  very  intelligent  officer,  (whose  name  I  cannot 
recall, )  and  forty-eight  men,  ( all  the  boat  could  carry, )  with 
orders  to  occupy  temporarily,  the  United  States  Arsenal  at  Au 
gusta,  and  open  up  communication  with  General  Wilson  at  Macon. 
in  the  event  that  General  Upton's  division  of  cavalry  was  not 
already  there.  The  Amazon  followed  the  next  day,  and  General 
Gillmore  had  made  the  necessary  orders  for  a  brigade  of  infantry 
to  be  commanded  by  General  Molyneaux,  to  follow  by  a  land 
march  to  Augusta,  as  its  permanent  garrison.  Another  brigade 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  451 

of  infantry  was  ordered  to  occupy  Orangeburg,  South  Carolina, 
the  point  furthest  in  the  interior  that  can  at  present  be  reached 
by  rail  from  the  sea  coast  (Charleston). 

On  the  1st  of  May  I  went,  to  Savannah,  where  General  Gilinore 
also  joined  me,  and  the  arrangements  ordered  for  the  occupation 
of  Augusta  were  consummated.  At  Savannah  I  found  the  city  in 
the  most  admirable  police,  under  direction  of  Brevet  Major  Gen 
eral  Grover,  and  the  citizens  manifested  the  most  unqualified  joy 
to  hear  that  so  far  as  they  were  concerned,  the  war  was  over. 
All  classes,  Union  men  as  well  as  former  rebels,  did  not  conceal 
however,  the  apprehensions  naturally  arising  from  a  total  igno 
rance  of  the  political  conditions  to  be  attached  to  their  future 
state.  Anything  at  all  would  be  preferable  to  this  dread 
uncertainty. 

On  the  evening  of  the  2d  of  May  I  returned  to  Hilton  Head, 
and  there  for  the  first  time,  received  the  New  York  papers  of 
April  28th,  containing  Secretary  Stanton's  dispatch  of  nine  in  the 
forenoon  of  the  27th  of  April,  to  General  Dix,  including  General 
Halleck's,  from  Richmond,  of  nine  in  the  evening  the  night  before, 
which  seems  to  have  been  rushed  with  extreme  haste  before  an 
excited  public,  viz  :  on  the  morning  of  the  28th.  You  will  ob 
serve  from  the  dates,  that  these  dispatches  were  running  back 
and  forth  from  Richmond  and  Washington  to  New  York,  and 
there  published,  while  General  Grant  and  I  were  in  Raleigh, 
North  Carolina,  adjusting  to  the  best  of  our  ability,  the  terms  of 
surrender  of  the  only  remaining  formidable  rebel  army  in  ex 
istence  at  the  time  east  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Not  one  word 
of  intimation  had  been  sent  to  me  of  the  displeasure  of  the  Gov 
ernment  with  my  official  conduct,  but  only  the  naked  disapproval 
of  a  skeleton  memorandum,  sent  properly  for  the  action  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States.  The  most  objectionable  features 
of  my  memorandum  had  already  (April  24th)  been  published  to 
the  world,  in  violation  of  official  usage  ;  and  the  contents  of  my 
accompanying  letters  to  General  Halleck,  General  Grant,  and 


452 

Secretary  Stanton,  of  even  date,  though  at  hand,  were  suppressed. 
In  all  these  letters  I  stated  clearly  and  distinctly  that  Johnston's 
army  would  not  fight,  but  if  pushed,  would  "  disband  "  and  scatter 
into  small  and  dangerous  guerilla  parties,  as  injurious  to  the  in 
terests  ot  the  United  States  as  to  the  people  themselves ;  that  all 
parties  admitted  that  the  rebel  cause  of  the  South  was  aban 
doned  ;  that  the  negroes  were  free,  and  that  the  temper  of  all 
was  most  favorable  to  a  lasting  peace.  I  say  all  these  opinions 
of  mine  were  withheld  from  the  public  with  a  seeming  purpose  ; 
and  I  do  contend  that  my  official  experience  and  former  services, 
as  well  as  my  past  life  and  familiarity  with  the  people  and  ge 
ography  of  the  South,  entitled  my  opinions  to  at  least  a  decent 
respect. 

Although  this  dispatch  ( Mr.  Stanton's,  of  April  27th,  )  was 
printed  "  official,"  it  had  come  to  me  only  in  the  questionable 
shape  of  a  newspaper  paragraph,  headed  "Sherman's  truce  dis 
regarded."  I  had  already  done  what  General  Wilson  wanted  me 
to  do,  viz:  Had  sent  him  supplies  of  clothing  and  food,  with 
clear  and  distinct  orders  and  instructions  how  to  carry  out  in 
Western  Georgia  the  terms  for  the  surrender  of  arms,  and  pa 
roling  the  prisoners  made  by  General  Johnston's  capitulation  of 
April  2Gth,  and  had  properly  and  most  opportunely  ordered  Gen 
eral  Gillmore  to  occupy  Orangeburg  and  Augusta,  stragetic  points 
of  great  value  at  all  times,  in  peace  and  war.  But  as  the  Secre 
tary  had  taken  upon  himself  to  order  my  subordinate  generals  to 
disobey  my  "  orders,"  I  explained  to  General  Gillmore  that  I  would 
no  longer  confuse  him  or  General  Wilson  with  "orders"  that 
might  conflict  with  the  Secretary,  which  as  reported,  were  sent, 
not  through  me,  but  in  open  disregard  of  me  and  of  my  lawful 
authority. 

It  now  becomes  my  duty  to  paint,  in  justly  severe  character, 
the  still  more  offensive  and  dangerous  matter  of  General  Halleck'gt 
dispatch  of  April  26th,  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  embodied  in  his 
to  General  Dix,  of  April  27th.  General  Halleck  had  been  chief- 
of-staff  of  the  army  at  Washington,  in  which  capacity  he  received 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  453 

my  official  letter  of  April  18th,  wherein  I  wrote  clearly  that  if 
Johnston's  army,  about  Greensboro,  was  pushed,  it  would  "dis 
perse,"  an  event  I  wished  to  prevent.  About  that  time  he  seems 
to  have  been  sent  from  Washington  to  Richmond  to  command  the 
new  military  Division  of  the  James  ;  in  assuming  charge  of  which 
on  the  22d,  he  defines  the  limits  of  his  authority  to  be  "the  De 
partment  of  Virginia,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  such  part 
of  North  Carolina  as  may  not  be  occupied  by  the  command  of 
Major  General  Sherman."  [See  his  General  Orders,  No.  1.] 
Four  days  later,  April  26th,  he  reports  to  the  Secretary  that  he 
had  ordered  Generals  Meade,  Sheridan  and  Wright,  to  invade  that 
part  of  North  Carolina  which  was  occupied  by  my  command,  and 
"pay  no  regard  to  any  truce  or  orders  of  miuo."  They  were  or 
dered  to  "  push  forward,  regardless  of  any  orders,  save  those  of 
Lieutenant  General  Grant,  and  cut  off  Johnston's  retreat."  He 
knew  at  the  time  he  penned  this  dispatch  that  Johnston  was  not 
retreating,  but  was  halted  under  a  forty-eight  hours  truce  with 
me,  and  was  laboring  to  surrender  his  command  and  prevent  it 
dispersing  into  guerilla  bands  ;  that  I  had  on  the  spot  a  mag 
nificent  army  at  my  command,  amply  sufficient  for  all  purposes 
required  by  the  occasion.  The  plan  of  cutting  off  a  retreat  from 
the  direction  of  Burkesville  and  Danville  is  hardly  worthy  of  one 
of  his  niilitai'y  education  and  genius. 

When  he  contemplated  an  act  so  questionable  as  the  violation 
of  a  truce  made  by  a  competent  authority,  he  should  have  gone 
himself,  and  not  have  sent  subordinates;  for  he  knew  I  was 
bound  in  honor  to  defend  and  maintain  my  own  truce  and  pledge  of 
faith,  even  at  the  cost  of  many  lives.  When  an  officer  pledges 
the  faith  of  his  Government,  he  is  bound  to  defend  it ;  and  he  is 
no  soldier  who  would  violate  it  knowingly. 

As  to  Davis  and  his  stolen  treasure,  did  General  Halleck,  as 
chief  of  staff,  or  commanding  officer  of  the  neighboring  military 
division,  notify  me  of  the  facts  contained  in  his  dispatch  to  the 
Secretary  ?  No ;  he  did  not.  If  the  Secretary  of  War  wanted 


454  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Davis  caught,  why  not  order  it,  instead  of,  by  publishing  in  the 
newspapers,  putting  him  on  his  guard  to  hide  away  and  escape  ? 
No  orders  or  intimation  to  arrest  Davis  or  his  stolen  treasure 
ever  came  to  me,  but,  on  the  contrary,  I  was  led  to  believe  that 
the  Secretary  of  War  rather  preferred  he  should  escape  from  the 
country,  if  it  was  made  unknown  to  him. 

But,  even  on  this  point,  I  inclose  a  copy  of  my  letter  to  Admi 
ral  Dahlgren,  at  Charleston,  sent  him  by  a  fleet  steamer  from  Wil 
mington,  on  the  25t,h  of  April,  two  days  before  the  bankers  of 
Richmond  had  imparted  to  General  Halleck  the  important  secret 
of  Davis'  movements,  designed,  doubtless,  to  stimulate  his  troops 
to  march  their  legs  off  to  catch  their  treasure  for  their  own  use. 
I  know  that  Admiral  Dahlgren  did  receive  my  letter  on  the  26th, 
and  had  acted  on  it  before  General  Halleck  had  even  thought  of 
the  matter.  But  I  don't  believe  a  word  of  the  treasure  story  ;  it 
is  absurd  on  its  face,  and  General  Halleck,  or  anybody,  has  my 
full  permission  to  chase  Jeff.  Davis  and  cabinet,  with  their  stolen 
treasure,  through  any  part  of  the  country  occupied  by  my 
command. 

The  last  and  most  obnoxious  feature  of  General  Halleck's  dis 
patch  is  where  he  goes  out  of  his  way,  and  advises  that  my  sub 
ordinates,  Generals  Thomas,  Stonernan  and  Wilson,  should  be 
"instructed  not  to  obey  Sherman's  commands."  This  is  too 
much,  and  I  turn  from  the  subject  with  feelings  too  strong  for 
words,  .and  merely  record  my  belief  that  so  much  mischief  was 
never  before  embraced  in  so  small  a  space  as  the  newspaper  para 
graph  headed,  "  Sherman's  truce  disregarded,"  authenticated 
as  "official"  by  Mr.  Secretary  Stanton,  and  published  in  the 
newspapers  of  April  28th. 

During  the  night  of  May  2d,  at  Hilton  Head,  having  concluded 
my  business  in  the  Department  of  the  South,  I  began  my  return 
to  meet  my  troops,  then  marching  toward  Richmond,  from  Raleigh. 
On  the  morning  of  May  3d,  we  ran  into  Charleston  Harbor,  where 
[  had  the  pleasure  to  meet  Admiral  Dahlgren,  who  had,  in  all  my 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  455 

previous  operations  from  Savannah  northward,  aided  me  with  a 
eourtesy  and  manliness  that  commanded  my  entire  respect  and 
deep  affection.  Also,  General  Hatch,  who,  from  our  first  inter 
view  at  the  Tullifinny  camp,  had  caught  the  spirit  of  the  move 
from  Pocataligo  northward,  and  had  largely  contributed  to  our 
joint  success  in  taking  Charleston  and  the  Carolina  coast.  Any 
one  who  is  not  satisfied  with  the  war,  should  go  and  see  Charles 
ton,  and  he  will  pray  louder  and  deeper  than  ever  that  the  country 
may,  in  the  long  future,  be  spared  any  more  war.  Charleston 
and  secession  being  synonymous  terms,  the  city  should  be  left 
as  a  sample,  so  that  centuries  will  pass  away  before  that  false 
doctrine  is  preached  again  in  our  Union. 

We  left  Charleston  the  evening  of  the  3d  of  May,  and  hastened 
with  all  possible  speed  back  to  Morehead  City,  which  we  reached 
at  night  of  the  4th.  I  immediately  communicated  by  telegraph 
to  General  Schofield,  at  Raleigh,  and  learned  from  him  the  pleas 
ing  fact  that  the  lieutenant  general,  commanding  the  armies  of 
the  United  States,  had  reached  the  Chesapeake  in  time  to  coun 
termand  General  Halleck's  order,  and  prevent  his  violating  my 
truce,  invading  the  area  of  my  command,  and  driving  Johnston's 
surrendering  army  into  fragments.  General  Johnston  had  ful 
filled  his  agreement  to  the  very  best  of  his  ability,  and  the  officers 
charged  with  issuing  the  paroles,  at  Greensboro,  reported  about 
30,000  already  made,  and  that  the  greater  part  of  the  North  Caro 
lina  troops  had  gone  home  without  waiting  for  their  papers  ;  but 
that  all  of  them  would  doubtless  come  in  to  some  of  the  miltary 
posts,  the  cornmaiiders  of  which  were  authorized  to  grant  them. 

About  eight  hundred  of  the  rebel  cavalry  had  gone  South,  re 
fusing  to  abide  the  terms  of  the  surrender,  and  it  was  supposed 
they  would  make  for  Mexico.  I  would  sincerely  advise  that  they 
be  urged  to  go  and  stay.  They  would  be  a  nuisance  to  any 
civilized  government,  whether  loose  or  in  prison. 

With  the  exception  of  some  plundering  on  the  part  of  Lee's 
and  Johnston's  disbanded  men,  all  else  was  quiet.  When,  to  the 


456  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

number  of  men  surrendered  at  Greensboro,  are  added  those  at 
Tallahassee,  Augusta  and  Macon,  with  the  scattered  squads  who 
will  come  in  at  other  military  posts,  I  have  no  doubt  full  fifty 
thousand  armed  men  will  be  disarmed  and  restored  to  civil  pur 
suits,  by  the  application  made  near  Durham  Station,  North  Caro 
lina,  on  the  26th  of  April,  1865,  and  that,  too,  without  the  loss  of 
a  single  life  to  us. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  I  received  and  here  subjoin  a  further  dis 
patch  from  General  Schofield,  which  contains  inquiries  I  have 
been  unable  to  satisfy,  similar  to  those  made  by  nearly  every 
officer  in  my  command,  whose  duty  brings  him  into  contact  with 
citizens.  I  leave  you  to  do  what  is  expedient  to  provide  the 
military  remedy. 

[By  telegraph  from  Raleigh,  North  Carolina.] 

"RALEIGH,  N.  C.,  May  5,  1865. 
"To  Major  General  W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Morehead  City: 

"  When  General  Grant  was  here,  as  you  doubtless  recollect,  he 
said  the  lines  had  been  extended  to  embrace  this  and  other  States 
South.  The  order,  it  seems,  has  been  modified  to  include  only 
Virginia  and  Tennessee.  I  think  it  would  be  an  act  of  wisdom 
to  open  this  State  to  trade  at  once.  I  hope  the  Government 
will  make  known  its  policy  as  to  organizing  State  government 
without  delay.  Affairs  must  necessarily  be  in  a  very  unsettled 
state  until  this  is  done.  The  people  now  are  in  a  mood  to  accept 
almost  anything  which  promises  a  definite  settlement.  What  is 
to  be  done  with  the  freedmen  is  the  question  of  all,  and  it  is  the 
all-important  question.  It  requires  prompt  and  wise  action  to 
prevent  the  negro  from  becoming  a  huge  elephant  on  our  hands. 
If  I  am  to  govern  this  State,  it  is  important  for  me  to  know  it  at 
once.  If  another  is  to  be  sent  here,  it  cannot  be  done  too  soon, 
for  he  will  probably  undo  the  most  that  I  shall  have  done.  I 
shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  fully,  when  you  shall  have  time  to 
wite.  I  will  send  your  message  to  General  Wilson  at  once. 
(Signed)  «  J.  M.  SCHOFIELD,  Major  General." 


AND   HIS    CAMPAIGN'S.  457 

I  give  this  dispatch  entire,  to  demonstrate  how  intermingled 
have  become  such  matters  with  the  military,  and  how  almost  im 
possible  it  has  become  for  an  officer  in  authority  to  act  a  purely 
military  part.  There  are  no  longer  armed  enemies  in  North  Caro 
lina,  and  a  soldier  can  deal  with  no  other  sort.  The  marshal 
and  sheriff,  with  their  posses  (of  which  the  military  may  become 
a  part),  are  the  only  proper  officers  to  deal  with  civil  criminals 
and  marauders.  But  I  will  not  be  drawn  out  into  a  discussion  of 
this  subject,  but  instance  this  case  to  show  how  difficult  the  task 
has  become  to  military  officers,  when  men  of  the  rank,  education, 
experience,  nerve  and  good  sense  of  General  Schofield  feel 
embarrassed  by  them. 

General  Schofield,  at  Raleigh,  has  a  well-appointed  and  well- 
disciplined  command ;  is  in  telegraphic  communication  with  the 
controlling  posts  in  his  department,  and  remoter  ones  in  the 
direction  of  Georgia,  as  well  as  with  Washington,  and  has  mili 
tary  possession  of  all  strategic  points.  In  like  manner,  General 
Gillmore  is  well  situated  in  all  respects,  except  as  to  communica 
tion  with  the  seat  of  the  General  Government.  I  leave  him,  also, 
with  every  man  he  ever  asked  for,  and  in  full  and  quiet  posses 
sion  of  every  strategic  point  in  his  department.  And  General 
Wilson  has,  in  the  very  heart  of  Georgia,  the  strongest,  best- 
appointed  and  best-equipped  cavalry  corps  that  ever  fell  under  my 
command :  and  he  has  now,  by  my  recent  action,  opened  to  him 
a  source  and  route  of  supply,  by  way  of  the  Savannah  River,  that 
simplifiies  his  military  problem.  So  that  I  think  I  may,  with  a 
clear  conscience,  leave  them,  and  turn  my  attention  once  more  to 
my  special  command,  the  army  with  which  I  have  been  associated 
through  some  of  the  most  eventful  scenes  of  this  or  any  war. 

I  hope,  and  believe,  none  of  these  commanders  will  ever  have 
reason  to  reproach  me  for  any  "  orders  "  they  may  have  received 
from  me.  And  the  President  of  the  United  States  may  be  assured 
that  all  of  them  are  now  in  position  ready  and  willing  to  execute, 
to  the  letter,  and  in  spirit,  any  orders  he  may  give.  I  shall, 


458  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

henceforth,  cease  to  give  them  any  orders  at  all,  for  the  occasion 
that  made  them  subordinate  to  me  is  passed,  and  I  shall  confine 
my  attention  to  the  army  composed  of  the  Fifteenth  and  Seven 
teenth,  the  Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  Corps,  unless  the  com 
manding  general  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States  orders 
otherwise. 

At  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  May  9th  I  reached  Man 
chester,  on  the  James  River,  opposite  Richmond,  and  found  all 
the  four  corps  had  arrived  from  Raleigh,  and  were  engaged  in 
replenishing  their  wagons  for  the  resumption  of  the  march 
toward  Alexandria. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  W.   T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General  Commanding. 

GENERAL    SHERMAN'S    EXAMINATION    CONTINUED. 

Question.  Did  you  have,  near  Fortress  Monroe,  a  conference 
with  President  Lincoln,  and,  if  so,  about  what  time  ? 

Answer.  I  met  General  Grant  and  Mr.  Lincoln  on  board  a 
steamboat  lying  at  the  wharf  at  City  Point,  during  the  evening 
of  the  27th  of  March.  I  renewed  my  visit  to  the  President,  on 
board  the  same  steamer,  anchored  in  the  stream,  on  the  following 
day,  General  Grant  being  present  on  both  occasions. 

Q.  In  tho-se  conferences,  was  any  arrangement  made  with  you 
and  General  Grant,  or  either  of  you,  in  regard  to  the  manner 
of  arranging  business  with  the  Confederacy,  or  in  regard  to 
terms  of  peace  ? 

A.  Nothing  definite  ;  it  was  simply  a  matter  of  general  conver 
sation  ;  nothing  specific  and  definite. 

Q.  At  what  time  did  you  learn  that  President  Lincoln  had 
assented  to  the  assembling  of  the  Virginia  rebel  legislature  ? 

A.  I  knew  of  it  on  the  18th  of  April,  I  think ;  but  I  procured 
a  paper  with  the  specific  order  of  General  Weitzel ;  also,  a  copy 
of  the  Amnesty  Proclamation  on  the  20th  of  April. 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  459 

Q.  You  did  not  know,  at  that  time,  that  the  arrangement  had 
been  rescinded  by  the  President? 

A.  No,  sir ;  I  did  not  know  of  that  until  afterward ;  the  mo 
ment  I  heard  of  that,  I  notified  General  Johnston  of  it. 

Q.  Then  at  the  time  you  entered  into  this  arrangement  with 
General  Johnston,  you  knew  that  General  Weitzel  had  approved 
of  the  calling  together  of  the  rebel  Legislature  of  Virginia,  by 
assent  of  the  President? 

A.  I  knew  of  it  by  some  source  unofficially,  and  succeeded  in 
getting  a  copy  of  the  paper  containing  General  Weitzel's  order 
on  the  20th  or  21st  of  April. 

Q.  But  at  the  time  of  your  arrangement  you  did  not  know  that 
the  order  had  been  rescinded  ? 

A,  No  sir ;  I  learned  that  several  days  afterward,  and  at  once 
sent  word  to  General  Johnston. 

Q.  At  the  time  of  your  arrangement,  you  also  knew  of  the 
surrender  of  Lee's  army,  and  the  terms  of  that  surrender  ? 

A.  I  had  that  officially  from  General  Grant ;  I  got  that  at. 
Smithfield  on  the  12th  of  April. 

Q.  I  have  here  what  purports  to  be  a  letter  from  you  to  John 
ston,  which  seems  to  imply  that  you  intended  to  make  the 
arrangement  on  the  terms  of  Lee's  surrender.  The  letter  is  as 
follows : 

[Here  follows  General  Sherman's  published  letter  to  Gen 
eral  Johnston,  in  reply  to  that  general's  first  letter  proposing  a 
surrender.  ] 

A.  Those  were  the  terms  as  to  his  own  army ;  but  the  con 
cessions  I  made  him  were  for  the  purpose  of  embracing  other 
armies. 

Q.  And  the  writings  you  signed  were  to  include  other  armies  ? 

A.  The  armies  of  Kirby  Smith  and  Dick  Taylor,  so  that  after 
ward  no  man  within  the  limits  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  could 
claim  to  belong  to  any  Confederate  army  in  existence. 

Q.  The  President  addressed  a  note  to  General  Grant,  perhaps 
not  to  you,  to  the  effect  of  forbidding  officers  of  the  army  from 


460  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

entering  into  anything  but  strictly  military  arrangements,  leaving 
civil  matters  entirely  to  him  ? 

A.  1  never  saw  such  a  paper,  signed  by  President  Lincoln. 
Mr.  Stanton  made  such  a  paper,  and  says  it  was  by  President 
Lincoln's  dictation.  He  made  it  to  General  Grant,  but  never  to 
me.  On  the  contrary,  while  I  was  in  Georgia,  Mr.  Lincoln  tele 
graphed  to  me,  encouraging  me  to  discuss  terms  with  Gov.  Brown 
and  Mr.  Stephens. 

Q.  Then  you  had  no  notice  of  that  order  of  General  Grant  ? 

A.  I  had  no  knowledge  of  it,  official  or  otherwise. 

Q.  In  the  published  report  of  your  agreement,  there  is  nothing 
said  about  slavery,  I  believe? 

A.  There  was  nothing  said  about  slavery,  because  it  did  not 
fall  within  the  category  of  military  questions,  and  we  could  not 
make  it  so.  It  was  a  legal  question,  which  the  President  had  dis 
posed  of,  overriding  all  our  action.  We  had  to  treat  the  slave  as 
free,  because  our  President,  the  commander-in-chief,  said  he  was 
free.  For  me  to  have  renewed  the  question,  when  that  agree 
ment  was  made,  would  have  involved  the  absurdity  of  an  inferior 
undertaking  to  qualify  the  work  of  his  superior. 

Q.  That  was  the  reason  why  it  was  not  mentioned  ? 

A.  Yes,  sir.  Subsequently  I  wrote  a  note  to  Johnston,  stating 
that  I  thought  it  would  be  well  to  mention  it  for  political  effect, 
when  we  undertook  to  draw  up  the  final  terms  with  precision.  It 
was  written  pending  the  time  my  memorandum  was  going  to 
Washington,  and  before  an  answer  had  been  returned. 

Q.  At  the  time  you  entered  into  these  negotiations,  was 
Johnston  in  a,  condition  to  offer  any  effectual  resistance  to  your 
army  ? 

A.  He  could  not  have  resisted  my  army  an  hour,  if  I  could 
have  got  hold  of  him.  But  he  could  have  escaped  from  me  by 
breaking  up  into  small  parties  and  taking  the  country  roads, 
traveling  faster  than  any  army  could  have  pursued. 

Q.  Then  your  object  in  negotiating  was  to  keep  his  army  from 
scattering  into  guerilla  bands  ? 


AND  HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  461 

A.  That  was  my  chief  object.  I  so  officially  notified  the  War 
Department. 

Q.  And  not  because  there  was  any  doubt  about  the  result  of  a 
battle  ? 

A.  There  was  no  question  as  to  the  result,  and  I  knew  it ;  every 
soldier  knew  it ;  every  man  in  North  Carolina  knew  it.  Johnston 
said,  in  the  first  five  minutes  of  our  conversation,  that  any  fur 
ther  persistance  on  his  part  would  be  an  act  of  folly,  and  all  he 
wanted  was  to  keep  his  army  from  dispersing. 

By  MR.  LOAN,  — 

Q.  In  your  examination  by  the  Chairman,  you  stated  that  you 
were  acting  in  pursuance  of  instructions  from  Mr.  Lincoln, 
derived  from  his  letters  and  telegrams  at  various  times  ? 

A.  Yes  sir. 

Q.  Have  you  any  of  these  letters  and  telegraphs  which  you 
can  furnish  to  the  committee  ? 

A.  I  can  furnish  you  a  copy  of  a  dispatch  to  General  Halleck, 
from  Atlanta,  in  which  I  stated  that  I  had  invited  Governor  Brown 
and  Vice  President  Stephens  to  meet  me,  and  I  can  give  you  a 
copy  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  answer,  for  my  dispatch  was  referred  to 
him,  in  which  he  said  he  felt  much  interested  in  my  dispatch,  and 
encouraged  me  to  allow  their  visit.  But  the  letter  to  which  I  re 
fer  specifically  was  a  longer  letter  which  I  wrote  to  General 
Halleck  from  my  camp  on  Big  Black,  Mississippi,  at  General 
Halleck's  instigation,  in  September,  1863,  which  was  received  in 
Washington,  and  submitted  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  who  desired  to  have 
it  published,  to  which  I  would  not  consent.  In  that  letter  I  gave 
my  opinions,  fully  and  frankly,  not  only  on  the  military  situation, 
but  also  the  civil  policy  necessary.  Mr.  Lincoln  expressed  him 
self  highly  pleased  with  my  views,  and  desired  to  make  them 
public,  but  I  preferred  not  to  do  so. 

Q.  And  by  subsequent  acts  he  induced  you  to  believe  he 
approved  of  those  views  ? 


462  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

A.  I  know  he  approved  of  then*,  and  always  encouraged  me 
to  carry  out  those  views. 

By  the  CHAIRMAN,  — 

Q.  The  following  is  a  letter  published  in  the  newspapers,  pur 
porting  to  have  been  addressed  to  you  by  Johnston,  dated  April 
21,  1865  : 

[Here  follows  the  published  letter  of  General  Sherman,  dated 
Raleigh,  April  21,  1865.] 

Q.  That  is  the  letter  in  which  you  say  that  it  would  be  well  to 
declare  publicly  that  slavery  is  dead  ? 

A.  Yes  sir ;  that  is  the  letter. 

By  MR.  LOAN,  — 

Q.  Will  you  furnish  the  committee  a  copy  of  the  letters 
written  by  you  to  Mr.  Stanton,  in  January  last,  from  Savannah  ? 

A.  I  will  do  so. 

The  CHAIRMAN, — 

And  when  the  manuscript  of  your  testimony  is  prepared,  it  will 
be  submitted  to  you  for  revision,  and  you  can  add  to  it  any 
statement  or  papers  that  you  may  desire,  or  consider  neces 
sary. 


I  have  revised  the  above,  and  now  subjoin  copies  of  letters 
from  my  letter-book,  in  the  order  of  their  bearing,  on  the 
questions  raised  by  this  inquiry. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  "j 

IN  THE  FIELD,  RALEIGH, 
NORTH  CAROLINA,  April  18,  1865.      J 

Lieutenant  General  U.  S.   GRANT,  or  Major  General  HALLECK, 

Washington,  D.  C.  : 

GENERAL — I  inclose  herewith  a  copy  of  an  agreement  made 
this  day  between  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  and  myself,  which, 
if  approved  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  will  produce 
peace  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Rio  Grande.  Mr.  Breckinridge 
was  present  at  our  conference  in  the  capacity  of  Major  General, 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  463 

and  satisfied  me  of  the  ability  of  General  Johnston  to  carry  out, 
to  the  full  extent  the  terms  of  this  agreement,  and  if  you  will  get 
the  President  to  simply  indorse  the  copy  and  commission  me  to 
carry  out  the  terms,  I  will  follow  them  to  the  conclusion. 

You  will  observe  that  it  is  an  absolute  submission  of  the  enemy 
to  the  lawful  authority  of  the  United  States,  and  disperses  his 
armies  absolutely  ;  and  the  point  to  which  I  attach  most  impor 
tance  is,  that  the  dispersion  and  disbaudment  of  these  armies  is 
done  in  such  a  manner  as  to  prevent  their  breaking  up  into  gue 
rilla  bands.  On  the  other  hand,  we  can  retain  just  as  much  of 
our  army  as  we  please.  I  agreed  to  the  mode  and  manner  of  the 
surrender  of  arms  set  forth,  as  it  gives  the  States  the  means  of 
suppressing  guerillas,  which  we  could  not  expect  them  to  do  if 
we  stripped  them  of  all  arms. 

Both  Generals  Johnston  and  Breckinridge  admitted  that  slavery 
was  dead,  and  I  could  not  insist  on  embracing  it  in  such  a  paper, 
because  it  can  be  made  with  the  States  in  detail.  I  know  that  all 
men  of  substance  South  sincerely  want  peace,  and  I  do  not  believe 
they  will  resort  to  war  again  during  this  century. 

I  have  no  doubt  but  that  they  will,  in  the  future,  be  perfectly 
submissive  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States.  The  moment  my 
action  in  this  matter  is  approved,  I  can  spare  five  (5)  corps,  and 
will  ask  for  orders  to  leave  General  Schofield  here  with  the  Tenth 
Corps,  and  to  march  myself  with  the  Fourteenth,  Fifteenth,  Sev 
enteenth,  Twentieth  and  Twenty-third  Corps,  via  Burkesville  and 
Gordonsville  to  Frederick  or  Hagerstown,  and  there  be  paid  and 
mustered  out. 

The  question  of  finance  is  now  the  chief  one,  and  every  soldier 
and  officer  not  needed  should  be  got  home  at  work.  I  would  like 
to  begin  the  march  North  by  May  1st. 

I  urge,  on  the  part  of  the  President,  speedy  action,  as  it  is  im 
portant  to  get  the  Confederate  armies  to  their  homes,  as  well  as 
our  own. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed,)  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General  Commanding. 


464 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 
IN  THE  FIELD,  RALEIGH,  N.  C.,  April  18,  18G5.      / 

General  H.  W.  HALLECK,  Chief  of  Staff,  Washington,  D.  C. : 

GENERAL  —  I  received  your  dispatch  describing  the  man,  Clark, 
detailed  to  assassinate  me.  He  had  better  be  in  a  hurry,  or  he 
will  be  too  late. 

The  news  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  death  produced  a  most  intense 
effect  on  our  troops.  At  first,  I  feared  it  would  lead  to  excesses, 
but  now  it  has  softened  down,  and  can  easily  be  guided.  None 
evinced  more  feeling  than  General  Johnston,  who  admitted  that 
the  act  was  calculated  to  stain  his  cause  with  a  dark  hue,  and  he 
contended  that  the  loss  was  most  serious  to  the  South,  who  had 
begun  to  realize  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  the  best  friend  the  South 
had. 

I  cannot  believe  that  even  Mr.  Davis  was  privy  to  the  diabolical 
plot,  but  think  it  the  emanation  of  a  set  of  young  men  at  the 
South,  who  are  very  devils.  I  want  to  throw  upon  the  South  the 
care  of  this  class  of  men,  who  will  soon  be  as  obnoxious  to  their 
industrial  classes  as  to  us. 

Had  I  pushed  Johnston's  army  to  an  extremity,  it  would  have 
dispersed  and  done  infinite  mischief.  Johnston  informed  me 
that  General  Stoneman  had  been  at  Salisbury,  and  was  now  about 
Statesville.  I  have  sent  him  orders  to  come  to  me.  General 
Johnston  also  informed  me  that  General  Wilson  was  at  Columbus, 
Georgia,  and  he  wanted  me  to  arrest  his  progress.  I  leave  that 
to  you. 

Indeed,  if  the  President  sanctions  my  agreement  with  John 
ston,  our  interest  is  to  cease  all  destruction. 

Please  give  all  orders  necessary,  according  to  the  views  the 
Executive  may  take,  and  influence  him,  if  possible,  not  to  vary 
the  terras  at  all,  for  I  have  considered  everything,  and  believe 
that,  the  Confederate  armies  once  dispersed,  we  can  adjust  all 
else  fairly  and  well.  I  am  yours,  etc., 

(Signed)  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General  Commanding. 


AND    HIS    CAMPAIGNS.  465 

t^esfc  confusion  should  result  to  the  mind  of  the  committee,  by 
the  latter  part  of  the  above  letter,  I  state  it  was  addressed  to 
General  Halleck,  as  chief  of  staff,  when  he  was  the  proper 
"  maker  of  orders  "  to  the  commander-in-chief.  The  whole  case 
changed  when,  on  the  26th  of  April,  he  became  the  commander 
of  the  separate  Division  of  the  James. 

As  stated  in  my  testimony,  General  Grant  reached  Raleigh  on 
the  24th.  On  the  25th,  on  the  supposition  that  I  would  start  next 
day  to  chase  Johnston's  army,  I  wrote  him  the  following  letter, 
delivered  in  person : 


HEAD-QUARTERS  DIVISION  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI, 

IN  THE  ,  FIELD, 
RALEIGH,  N.  C.,  April  25,  1865 


•PI,  | 
•      J 


Lieutenant  General  U.  S.  GRANT,  Present : 

GENERAL  —  I  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  of  April  21st, 
with  inclosures,  yesterday,  and  was  well  pleased  that  you  came 
along,  as  you  must  have  observed  that  I  held  the  military  control 
BO  as  to  adapt  it  to  any  phase  the  case  might  assume. 

It  is  but  just  I  should  record  the  fact  that  I  made  my  terms 
with  General  Johnston  under  the  influence  of  the  liberal  terms 
you  extended  to  the  army  of  General  Lee,  at  Appomattox  Court 
House,  on  the  9th,  and  the  seeming  policy  of  our  Government,  as 
evinced  by  the  call  of  the  Virginia  Legislature  and  Governor 
back  to  Richmond,  under  yours  and  President  Lincoln's  very 
eyes.  It  now  appears  the  last  act  was  done  without  any  consul 
tation  with  you,  or  any  knowledge  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  but  rather  in 
opposition  to  a  previous  policy,  well  conducted. 

I  have  not  the  least  desire  to  interfere  in  the  civil  policy  of  our 
Government,  but  would  shun  it  as  something  not  to  my  liking; 
but  occasions  do  arise  when  a  prompt  seizure  of  results  is  forced 
on  military  commanders  not  in  immediate  communication  with 
the  proper  authority.  It  is  probable  that  the  terms  signed  by 
General  Johnston  and  myself  were  not  clear  enough  on  the  point 
well  understood  between  us,  that  our  negotiations  did  not  apply 


466  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

to  any  parties  outside  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Confederate 
armies — which  could  easily  have  been  remedied. 

No  surrender  of  any  army,  not  actually  at  the  mercy  of  an  an 
tagonist,  was  ever  made  without  "terms,"  and  these  always 
define  the  military  status  of  the  surrendered.  Thus,  you  stipu 
lated  that  the  officers  and  men  of  Lee's  army  should  not  be  mo 
lested  at  their  homes,  so  long  as  they  obeyed  the  laws  at  the 
place  of  their  residence.  I  do  not  wish  to  discuss  those  points 
involved  in  our  recognition  of  the  State  government  in  actual 
existence,  but  will  merely  state  my  conclusions,  to  await  the 
solution  of  the  future. 

Such  action,  on  our  part,  in  no  manner  recognizes  for  a  moment 
the  so-called  Confederate  Government,  or  makes  us  liable  for  its 
debts  or  acts. 

The  laws  and  acts  done  by  the  several  States,  during  the  period 
of  rebellion,  are  void,  because  done  without  the  oath  prescribed 
by  our  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  which  is  a  "  condition 
precedent." 

We  have  a  right  to  use  any  sort  of  machinery  to  produce  mili 
tary  results,  and  it  is  the  commonest  thing  for  military  comman 
ders  to  use  the  civil  governments,  in  actual  existence,  as  a  means  to 
an  end.  I  do  believe  we  could  and  can  use  the  present  State 
governments  lawfully,  constitutionally,  and  as  the  very  best 
possible  means  to  produce  the  object  desired,  viz:  entire  and 
complete  submission  to  the  lawful  authorities  of  the  United 
States. 

As  to  punishment  for  past  crimes,  that  is  for  the  judiciary,  and 
can  in  no  manner  or  way  be  disturbed  by  our  acts  ;  and,  so  far  as 
I  can,  I  will  use  my  influence,  that  rebels  shall  suffer  all  the  per 
sonal  punishment  prescribed  by  law,  as  also  civil  liabilities 
arising  from  their  past  acts. 

What  we  now  want  is  the  mere  form  of  law,  by  which  common 
men  may  regain  the  positions  of  industry  so  long  disturbed  by 
the  war. 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  467 

I  now  apprehend  that  the  rebel  armies  will  disperse,  and  in 
stead  of  dealing  with  six  or  seven  States,  will  have  to  deal  with 
numberless  bands  of  desperadoes,  headed  by  such  men  as  Mosby, 
Forrest,  Red  Jackson,  and  others,  who  know  not,  and  care  not 
for  danger  and  its  consequences. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General. 

On  the  same  day  I  wrote  and  mailed  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
the  following : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ") 
IN  THE  FIELD,  RALEIGH,  N.  C.,  April  27,  1865.      / 

Hon.  E.  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War,  Washington : 

SIR — I  have  been  furnished  a  copy  of  your  letter  of  April  21st, 
to  General  Grant,  signifying  your  disapproval  of  the  terms  in 
which  General  Johnston  proposed  to  disarm  and  disperse  the 
insurgents,  on  condition  of  amnesty,  etc.  I  admit  my  folly  in 
embracing  in  a  military  convention  any  civil  matters,  but,  unfor 
tunately,  such  is  the  nature  of  our  situation,  that  they  seem  inex 
plicably  united,  and  I  understood  from  you  at  Savannah  that  the 
financial  state  of  the  country  demanded  military  success,  and 
would  warrant  a  little  heeding  to  policy. 

When  1  had  my  conference  with  General  Johnston,  I  had  the 
public  examples  before  me  of  General  Grant's  terms  to  Lee's  army 
and  of  General  Weitzel's  invitation  to  the  Virginia  Legislature  to 
assemble. 

I  still  believe  the  General  Government  of  the  United  States 
made  a  mistake ;  but  that  is  none  of  my  business.  Mine  is  a 
different  task,  and  I  had  flattered  myself  that  by  four  years  of 
patient,  unremitting  and  successful  labor,  I  deserved  no  reminder 
such  as  is  contained  in  the  last  paragraph  of  your  letter  to 
General  Grant.  You  may  assure  the  President  that  I  heed  his 
suggestion.  I  am,  truly,  etc., 

(Signed)  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General  Commanding. 


468  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

The  last  sentence  refers  to  the  fact  that  General  Grant  had 
been  sent  to  Kaleigh  to  direct  military  movements.  That  was  the 
first  time  in  my  life  I  had  ever  had  a  word  of  reproof  from  the 
Government  of  the  United  States,  and  I  was  naturally  sensitive. 
But  all  I  said  to  any  one  was  to  General  Meigs,  who  came  with 
General  Grant,  that  it  was  not  kind  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Secretary 
Stanton.  The  fact,  however,  did  not  qualify  my  military  conduct. 
The  final  interview  with  General  Johnston  followed,  and  the 
terms  of  capitulation  were  agreed  on  and.  signed,  and  General 
Grant  started  for  Washington,  bearing  the  news,  when,  on  the 
28th  of  April,  I  received  in  the  New  York  Times  the  most  extra 
ordinary  budget  of  Mr.  Stanton,  which,  for  the  first  time,  startled 
me,  and  I  wrote  to  General  Grant  this  letter: 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 
IN  THE  FIELD,  April  28,  1865.      / 

Lieutenant  General  U.  S.  GRANT,  General-in-Chief,  Washington, 
D.  C. : 

GENERAL — Since  you  left  me  yesterday,  I  have  seen  the  New 
York  Times  of  the  24th  instant,  containing  a  budget  of  military 
news,  authorized  by  the  signature  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  which 
is  grouped  in  such  a  way  as  to  give  very  erroneous  impressions. 
It  embraces  a  copy  of  the  basis  of  agreement  between  myself 
and  General  Johnston,  of  April  18th,  with  commentaries  which  it 
will  be  time  enough  to  discuss  two  or  three  years  hence,  after 
the  Government  has  experienced  a  little  more  in  the  machinery 
by  which  power  reaches  the  scattered  people  of  the  vast  country 
known  as  the  South.  But,  in  the  mean  time,  I  do  think  that  my 
rank  (if  not  my  past  services)  entitled  me,  at  least,  to  the  respect 
of  keeping  secret  what  was  known  to  none  but  the  Cabinet,  until 
further  inquiry  could  be  made,  instead  of  giving  publicity  to 
documents  I  never  saw,  and  drawing  inferences  wide  of  the 
truth. 

I  never  saw  or  had  furnished  to  me  a  copy  of  Mr.  Stanton's  dis 
patch  to  you,  of  the  3d  of  March,  nor  did  Mr.  Stanton  or  any 


AND   HIS   CAMPAIGNS.  469 

human  being  ever  convey  to  me  its  substance,  or  anything  like  it; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  I  had  seen  General  Weitzel's  invitation  to 
the  Virginia  Legislature,  made  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  very  presence, 
and  I  had  failed  to  discover  any  other  official  hint,  or  any  ideas 
calculated  to  allay  the  fears  of  the  people  of  the  South,  after  the 
destruction  of  their  armies  and  civil  authorities  would  leave 
them  without  any  civil  government  at  all.  We  should  not  drive 
a  people  into  anarchy,  and  it  is  simply  impossible  for  our  military 
power  to  reach  all  the  masses  of  their  unhappy  country. 

I  confess  I  did  not  want  to  drive  General  Johnston's  army  into 
bands  of  armed  men,  going  about  without  purpose,  and  capable 
only  of  infinite  mischief.  But  you  saw,  on  your  arrival  at  Ra 
leigh,  that  I  had  my  armies  so  disposed  that  his  escape  was  only 
possible  in  a  disorganized  shape;  and  as  you  did  not  choose  to 
direct  military  operations  in  this  quarter,  I  infer  that  you  were 
satisfied  with  the  military  situation.  At  all  events,  as  soon  as  I 
learned,  what  was  proper  enough,  the  disapproval  of  the  Presi 
dent,  I  acted  in  such  a  manner  as  to  compel  the  surrender  of 
General  Johnston's  whole  army  on  the  same  terms  as  you  had 
prescribed  to  General  Lee's  army,  when  you  had  it  surrounded 
and  in  your  absolute  power. 

Mr.  Stanton,  in  stating  that  my  orders  to  General  Stoneman 
would  likely  result  in  the  escape  of  "  Mr.  Davis  to  Mexico  or 
Europe,"  is  in  deep  error.  General  Stoneman  was  not  at  Salis 
bury  then,  but  had  gone  back  to  Statesville.  Davis  was  supposed 
to  be  between  us,  and  Stoneman  was  beyond  him.  By  turning 
toward  me  he  was  approaching  Davis,  and  had  he  joined  me,  as 
ordered,  I  then  would  have  had  a  mounted  force,  needed  for  that 
and  other  purposes.  But  even  now,  I  don't  know  that  Mr.  Stan- 
ton  wants  Davis  caught ;  and  as  my  official  papers,  deemed  sacred, 
are  hastily  published  to  the  world,  it  will  be  imprudent  for  me  to 
state  what  has  been  done  in  that  respect. 

As  the  editor  of  the  Times  has  (it  may  be)  logically  and  fairly 
drawn  the  inference  from  this  singular  document  that  I  am  in- 
Btibordinate,  I  can  only  deny  the  intention.  I  have  never  in  my 

N* 


470  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHEKMAN, 

life  questioned  or  disobeyed  an  order,  though  many  and  many  a 
time  have  I  risked  my  life,  my  health  and  reputation  in  obeying 
orders,  or  even  hints,  to  execute  plans  and  purposes  not  to  my 
liking.  It  is  not  fair  to  withhold  from  me  plans  and  policy  ( if 
any  there  be),  and  expect  me  to  guess  at  them,  for  facts  and 
events  appear  quite  different  from  different  stand  points.  For 
four  years  I  have  been  in  camp,  dealing  with  soldiers,  and  I  can 
assure  you  that  the  conclusions  at  which  the  Cabinet  arrived  with 
such  singular  unanimity,  differ  from  mine.  I  conferred  freely 
with  the  best  officers  in  this  army  as  to  points  involved  in  this 
controversy,  and,  strange  to  say,  they  were  singularly  unanimous 
in  the  other  conclusion,  and  they  will  learn  with  pain  and  sorrow 
that  I  am  deemed  insubordinate  and  wanting  in  common  sense. 
I,  who  have  labored  day  and  night,  winter  and  summer,  for  four 
years,  and  have  brought  an  army  of  70,000  men,  in  magnificent 
condition,  across  a  country  deemed  impassable,  and  placed  it  just 
where  it  was  wanted,  almost  on  the  day  appointed,  have  brought 
discredit  on  the  Government. 

I  do  not  wish  to  boast  of  this,  but  I  do  say  that  it  entitled  me 
to  the  courtesy  of  being  consulted  before  publishing  to  the  world 
a  proposition  rightfully  submitted  to  higher  authority  for  adjudi 
cation,  and  then  accompanied  by  statements  which  invited  the 
press  to  be  let  loose  upon  me. 

It  is  true  that  non-combatants — men  who  sleep  in  comfort  and 
security  while  we  watch  on  the  distant  lines  —  are  better  able  to 
judge  than  we  poor  soldiers,  who  rarely  see  a  newspaper,  hardly 
can  hear  from  our  families,  or  stop  long  enough  to  get  our  pay. 
I  envy  not  the  task  of  reconstruction,  and  am  delighted  that  the 
Secretary  has  relieved  me  of  it. 

As  you  did  not  undertake  to  assume  the  management  of  the 
affairs  of  this  army,  I  infer  that,  on  personal  inspection,  your 
mind  arrived  at  a  different  conclusion  from  that  of  Mr.  Secretary 
Stanton.  I  will,  therefore,  go  on  and  execute  your  orders  to  the 
conclusion,  and  when  done,  will,  with  intense  eatisfaction,  leave 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  471 

to  the  eivil  authorities  the  execution  of  the  task  of  which  they 
seem  to  be  so  jealous  ;  but,  as  an  honest  man  and  soldier,  I  in 
vite  them  to  follow  my  path,  for  they  may  see  some  things  there  — 
gome  things  that  may  disturb  their  philosophy. 

With  sincere  respect, 
(Signed)  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General  Commanding. 

P.  S.  As  Mr.  Stanton's  singular  paper  has  been  published,  I 
demand  that  this  also  be  made  public,  though  I  am  in  no  manner 
responsible  to  the  press,  but  to  the  law  and  my  proper  superiors. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN, 
Major  General  Commanding. 

Since  my  arrival  at  Washington  I  have  learned  from  General 
Grant  that  this  letter  was  received,  but  he  preferred  to  withhold 
it  until  my  arrival,  as  he  knew  I  was  marching  towards  Wash 
ington  with  my  army.  Upon  my  arrival,  I  did  not  insist  on  its 
publication  till  it  was  drawn  out  by  this  inquiry.  I  also  append 
here  the  copy  of  a  letter  from  Colonel  T.  S.  Bowers,  Assistant 
Adjutant  General,  asking  me  to  modify  my  report  as  to  the  point 
of  perfidy  in  violating  my  truce,  with  my  answer : 

"  HEAD-QUARTERS,  ARMIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  \ 
WASHINGTON,  May  25,  1865.  J 

"Major  General  W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Commanding  Military  Division 

of  the  Mississippi: 

"  General  Grant  directs  me  to  call  your  attention  to  the  part 
of  your  report  in  which  the  necessity  of  maintaining  your  truce 
at  the  expense  of  many  lives  is  spoken  of.  The  general  thinks 
that,  in  making  a  truce,  the  commander  of  an  army  can  control 
only  his  own  army,  and  that  the  -hostile  general  must  make  his 
own  arrangements  with  other  armies  acting  against  him. 

"  While  independent  generals,  acting  against  a  common  foe, 
would  naturally  act  in  concert,  the  general  deems  that  each  must 
be  the  judge  of  his  own  duty  and  responsible  for  its  execution. 


i72  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

"If  you  should  wish,  the  report  will  be  returned,  for  aiij 
change  you  may  deem  best. 

"  Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  «  T.  S.  BOWERS, 

"  Assistant  Adjutant  General." 

HEAD- QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 
WASHINGTON,  May  26,  1865.        / 

Col.  T.  S.  BOWERS,  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  Washington,  D.  C.: 
COLONEL  —  I  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  of  March 
25th,  last  evening,  and  I  hasten  to  answer.  I  wish  to  precede  it 
by  renewing  the  assurance  of  my  entire  confidence  and  respect 
for  the  President  and  Lieutenant  General  Grant,  and  that  in  all 
matters  I  will  be  most  willing  to  shape  my  official  and  private 
conduct  to  suit  their  wishes.  The  past  is  beyond  my  control, 
and  the  matters  embraced  in  the  official  report,  to  which  you 
refer,  are  finished.  It  is  but  just  that  the  reasons  that  actuated 
me,  right  or  wrong,  should  stand  on  record,  but  in  all  future 
cases,  should  any  arise,  I  will  respect  the  decision  of  General 
Grant,  though  I  think  it  wrong. 

Supposing  a  guard  has  prisoners  in  charge,  and  officers  of 
another  command  should  aim  to  rescue  or  kill  them,  is  it  not 
clear  the  guard  must  defend  the  prisoners  ?  Same  of  a  safe 
guard.  So  jealous  is  the  military  law  to  protect  and  maintain 
good  faith  when  pledged,  that  the  law  adjudges  death,  and  no 
alternative  punishment,  to  one  who  violates  a  safe-guard  in 
foreign  ports.  [  See  Article  of  War,  No.  55.  ]  For  murder, 
arson,  treason  and  the  highest  military  crimes,  the  punishment 
prescribed  by  law  is  death,  or  some  minor  punishment,  but  for 
the  violation  of  a  safe-guard,  death,  and  death  alone,  is  the  pre 
scribed  penalty.  I  instance  this  to  illustrate  how,  in  military 
stipulations  to  an  enemy,  our  Government  commands  and  enforces 
good  faith.  In  discussing  this  matter,  I  would  like  to  refer  to 
many  writers  on  military  law,  but  am  willing  to  take  Halleck  as 
the  test.  [See  his  chapter  27.]  In  the  very  first  article  he 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  473 

Btates  that  good  faith  should  always  be  observed  between  enemies 
in  war,  because,  when  our  faith  has  been  pledged  to  him,  so  far 
as  our  promise  extends,  he  ceases  to  be  our  enemy.  He  then  de 
fines  the  meaning  of  compacts  and  conventions,  and  says  they  are 
made  sometimes  for  a  general  or  a  partial  suspension  of  hostili 
ties,  "for  the  surrender  of  an  army,"  etc.  They  may  be  special, 
limited  to  particular  places  or  particular  forces,  but,  of  course, 
can  only  bind  the  armies  subject  to  the  general  who  makes  the 
truce,  and  coextensive  only  with  the  extent  of  his  command. 
This  is  all  I  have  claimed,  and  clearly  covers  the  whole  case. 
All  of  North  Carolina  was  in  my  immediate  command,  with  Gen 
eral  Schofield,  its  department  commander,  and  his  army  present 
with  me.  I  never  asked  the  truce  to  have  effect  beyond  my  own 
territorial  command.  General  Halleck  himself,  in  his  order 
No.  1,  defines  his  own  limits  clearly  enough,  viz:  "Such  part 
of  North  Carolina  as  was  not  occupied  by  the  command  of  Major 
General  Sherman."  He  could  not  pursue  and  cut  off  Johnston's 
retreat  towards  Salisbury  and  Charlotte  without  invading  my 
command,  and  so  potent  was  his  purpose  to  defy  and  violate  my 
truce,  that  Mr.  Stanton's  publication  of  the  fact,  not  even  yet  re 
called,  modified,  or  explained,  was  headed  "  Sherman's  truce 
disregarded,"  that  the  whole  world  drew  but  one  inference.  It 
admits  of  no  other.  I  never  claimed  that  that  truce  bound  Gen 
erals  Halleck  or  Canby  within  the  sphere  of  their  respective 
commands,  as  defined  by  themselves. 

It  was  a  partial  truce,  of  very  short  duration,  clearly  within 
my  limits  and  right,  justified  by  events;  and,  as  in  the  case  of 
prisoners  in  my  custody,  or  the  violation  of  a  safe-guard  given 
by  me  in  my  own  territorial  limits,  I  was  bound  to  maintain 
good  faith. 

I  prefer  not  to  change  my  report ;  but  again  repeat,  that  in  all 
future  cases,  I  am  willing  to  be  governed  by  the  interpretation 
of  General  Grant,  although  I  again  invite  his  attention  to  the 
limits  of  my  command  and  those  of  General  Halleck  at  the  time, 


474  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

and  the  pointed  phraseology  of  General  Halleck's  dispatch  to 
Mr.  Stanton,  wherein  he  reports  that  he  had  ordered  his  generals 
to  pay  no  heed  to  my  orders  within  the  clearly-defined  area  of 
my  command.  I  am,  etc., 

(Signed,)  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General  U.  S.  A.,  Commanding. 

I  now  add  the  dispatch  from  Atlanta,  mentioned  in  the  body 
of  my  testimony,  with  Mr.  Lincoln's  answer  : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ~\ 

IN  THE  FIELD, 
ATLANTA,  Ga.,  September  15,  1861      J 

General  HALLECK,  Washington,  D.  C. : 

My  report  is  done,  and  will  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  I  get  a 
few  more  of  the  subordinate  reports.  I  am  awaiting  a  courier 
from  General  Grant.  All  well,  and  troops  in  fine,  healthy  camps, 
and  supplies  coming  forward  finely. 

Governor  Brown  has  disbanded  his  militia,  to  gather  the  corn 
and  sorghum  of  the  State.  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  he  and 
Stephens  want  to  visit  me,  and  I  have  sent  them  a  hearty 
invitation. 

1  will  exchange  2,0^)0  prisoners  with  Hood,  but  no  more. 

(Signed,)  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General  Commanding. 


"WASHINGTON,   D.  C.,   10  A.  M.,  1 

September  17,  1864.      / 
"Major  General  SIIEBKAK: 

"  I  feel  great  interest  in  the  subjects  of  your  dispatch,  men 
tioning  corn  and  sorghum,  and  contemplate  a  visit  to  you. 
(Signed,)  "A.  LINCOLN, 

"President  United  States." 

I  have  not  possession  here  of  all  my  official  records,  most  of 
which  are  out  West,  and  I  have  selected  the  above  from  my  more 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  475 

recent  letter-Looks,  and  offer  them  to  show  how  prompt  and  full 
have  been  my  official  reports,  and  how  unnecessary  was  all  the 
clamor  made  touching  my  actions  and  opinions,  at  the  time  the 
basis  of  agreement,  of  April  18th,  was  submitted  to  the  President. 
All  of  which  is  most  respectfully  submitted. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN, 
Major  General  United  States  Army. 

SHERMAN'S  FAREWELL  TO  HIS  ARMY. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  1 
IN  THE  FIELD,  WASHINGTON,  May  30,  1865.      j 
SPECIAL  FIELD  ORDERS  No.  76. 

The  general  commanding  announces  to  the  Armies  of  the  Ten 
nessee  and  Georgia  that  the  time  has  come  for  us  to  part.  Our 
work  is  done,  and  armed  enemies  no  longer  defy  us.  Some  of 
you  will  be  retained  in  the  service  until  further  orders,  and  now 
that  we  are  about  to  separate,  to  mingle  with  the  civil  world,  it 
becomes  a  pleasing  duty  to  recall  to  mind  the  situation  of  national 
affairs,  when  but  little  more  than  a  year  ago  we  were  gathered 
about  the  towering  cliffs  of  LookouL  Mountain,  and  all  the  future 
was  wrapped  in  doubt  and  uncertainty;  three  armies  had  come 
together  from  different  fields,  with  separate  histories,  bound 
together  by  one  common  cause — the  union  of  our  country  and 
the  government  of  our  inheritance.  There  is  no  need  to  recall  to 
your  memories  Tunnel  Hill,  with  its  rocky-faced  mountain,  and 
Buzzard  Roost  Gap,  with  the  ugly  forts  of  Dalton  behind.  We 
were  in  earnest,  and  paused  not  for  danger  and  difficulty,  but 
dashed  through  Snake  Creek  Gap  and  fell  on  Resaca ;  then  on  to 
Dallas,  Kenesaw,  and  the  heats  of  summer  found  us  on  the 
banks  of  the  Chattahoochee,  far  from  home  and  dependent  on  a 
single  line  for  supplies.  Again,  we  were  not  to  be  held  back  by 
any  obstacle,  and  crossed  over  and  fought  four  heavy  battles  for 
the  possession  of  the  citadel  of  Atlanta. 

That  was  the  crisis  of  our  history.  A  doubt  still  clouded  our 
future,  but  we  solved  the  problem,  and  destroyed  Atlanta,  struck 


476  MAJ.  GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

boldly  across  the  State  of  Georgia,  severed  all  the  main  arteriea 
of  life  to  our  enemy,  and  Christmas  found  us  at  Savannah 
Waiting  there  only  long  enough  to  fill  our  wagons,  we  again 
began  a  march  which,  for  peril,  labor  and  results,  will  compare 
with  any  ever  made  by  an  organized  army.  The  floods  of  the 
Savannah,  the  swamps  of  the  Combahee  and  Edisto ;  the  high 
hills  and  rocks  of  the  Santee ;  the  flat  quagmires  of  the  Pedee 
and  Cape  Fear  Rivers  were  all  passed  in  midwinter,  with  its 
floods  and  rains,  in  the  face  of  an  accumulating  enemy,  and  after 
the  battles  of  Averysboro  and  Bentouville,  we  once  more  came 
out  of  the  wilderness  to  meet  our  friends  at  Goldsboro.  Even 
there  we  paused  only  long  enough  to  get  new  clothing,  to  reload 
our  wagons,  and  again  pushed  on  to  Raleigh  and  beyond,  until 
we  met  the  enemy,  sueing  for  peace  instead  of  war,  and  oifering 
to  submit  to  the  injured  laws  of  his  and  our  country. 

As  long  as  that  enemy  was  defiant,  not  rivers,  nor  mountains, 
nor  swamps,  nor  hunger,  nor  cold  had  checked  us,  but  when  he 
who  had  fought  us  hard  and  persistently  offered  submission,  your 
general  thought  it  wrong  to  pursue  him  further,  and  negotiations 
followed,  which  resulted,  as  you  know,  in  his  surrender.  How 
far  the  operations  of  the  army  have  contributed  to  the  overthrow 
of  the  Confederacy  and  the  peace  which  now  dawns  on  us,  must 
be  judged  by  others,  not  by  us,  but  that  you  have  done  all  that 
men  could  do,  has  been  admitted  by  those  in  authority,  and  we 
have  a  right  to  join  in  the  universal  joy  that  fills  our  land,  be 
cause  the  war  is  over,  and  our  Government  stands  vindicated 
before  the  world  by  the  joint  action  of  the  volunteer  armies  of 
the  United  States. 

To  such  as  remain  in  the  military  service,  your  general  need 
only  remind  you  that  the  successes  in  the  past  are  due  to  hard 
work  and  discipline,  and  that  the  same  work  and  discipline  are 
equally  important  in  the  future.  To  such  as  go  home,  he  will 
only  say  that  our  favored  country  is  so  grand,  so  extensive,  so 
diversified  in  climate,  soil  and  productions,  that  every  man  can 


AND  HIS  CAMPAIGNS.  477 

finJ  a  home  and  occupation  suited  to  his  tastes,  and  none  should 
yield  to  the  natural  impotence  sure  to  result  from  our  past  life 
of  excitement  and  adventure.  You  will  be  invited  to  seek  new 
adventures  abroad ;  but  do  not  yield  to  the  temptation,  for  it  will 
lead  only  to  death  and  disappointment. 

Your  general  now  bids  you  all  farewell,  with  the  full  belief 
that,  as  in  war  you  have  been  good  soldiers,  so  in  peace  you  will 
make  good  citizens;  and  if,  unfortunately,  a  new  war  should 
arise  in  our  country,  Sherman's  army  will  be  the  first  to  buckle 
on  the  old  armor  and  come  forth  to  defend  and  maintain  the 
Government  of  our  inheritance  and  choice. 

By  order  of  Major  General  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 

(Signed)  M.  DAYTON, 

Assistant  Adjutant,  General. 


HENRY  M.  SHERWOOD, 


MANUFACTURER  AND  DEALER  IN 


I 

$t\\n\  |jftmltettfii0jt, 

Office,  No,  21  Lombard  Block,  {  ^IpostSl0' }  Chicago,- 111, 


SCHOOL  DESKS  AND  SEATS, 

OF  ALL  SIZES,   IN  EVERY  DESIRABLE  STYLE. 

The  above  cut  represents  the  best  Cheap  Desk  and  Seat  made.  It  if 
neat,  convenient,  strong  and  durable.  It  accommodates  two  pupils,  anc 
is  of  five  different  heights,suitable  for  scholars  of  all  sizes.  /^CASTINGS* 
for  this  Desk  sold  seprately  if  desired. 

LIQUID  SLATING,  for  Black  Boards. 

This,  like  every  Good  Article,  has  its  imitations.    Every  Can  ordered 
directly  of  me  will  be  warranted, 


Adapted  to  the  wants  of  Common  Schools;  Numerical   Frames  Objed 
Teaching  Forms,  Cube  Root  Blocks.  Solids,  Orreries,  Tellurians,  &c.  &c. 

GLOBES,  of  all  Sizes  and  Styles;  Outline  Maps,  Charts,  &c. 


Patented  MttToh  16th,  1864, 
By  ELBBRT  PUKOX. 


No.  1  —  Primary  Basket  Arm  Chair. 


No.    18  — Grammar    Double    Desk 


No.  26  — Teacher's  Desk,  with  Two  Drawers  and 
Deep  Tray. 


No.  29  — Teacher's  Desk,  with  Eight  Drawers. 


G.  &  H.  M.  SHERWOOD'S 

PATENT  INK  WELL  FOR  SCHOOLS. 


Exph, 
the  covi 


if-n. — Fig.  1  represents  a  top  view  of  the  cover.    Fig.  2,  a  top  view  of  the  well  without 
rig.  3,  a  bottom  view  of  the  cover.    Fig.  4,  an  edge  view  of  the  cover.    Fig.  5,  a  view.of 
the  well  complete.    Fig.  €.  a  key  to  screw  on  and  unscrew  cover. 

The  above  cuts  represent  the  best  school  ink  well  in  use.  It  is  neat,  convenient,  cheap 
and  durable. 

The  iron  well,  (Fig.  2,)  when  fastened  to  the  desk  by  two  common  screws,  never  has  to  be  re 
moved.  Into  this  is  set  a  glass  well  to  hold  the  ink.  This  glass  only  has  to  be  taken  out  to 
clean  the  well. 

The  cover,  (Fig.  4,}  is  easily  fastened  to  the  well  by  a  single  turn  of  the  key,  and  when  fastened 
can  only  be  removed  with  the  key,  which  should  be  kept  by  the  teacher  or  janitor.  (It  will  not  be 
necessary  to  remove  the  cover  oftener  than  the  well  needs  cleaning.) 

The  pen  hole  is  covered  by  a  small  cap,  turning  horizontally,  as  seen  in  Fig.  5. 

By  this  simple  arrangement,  we  have  a  well  that  cannot  get  out  of  order.  It  will  not  corrode. 
It  camiot  upset.  It  cannot  be  made  noisy  by  turning  on  or  off  the  cap.  It  cannot  burst  and 
spill  the  ink ;  nor  can  it  be  removed  and  lost  by  the  pupils. 

It  can  be  used  in  the  holes  made  for  other  wells. 

It  is  economical,  as  the  expenditure  for  each  pupil,  (where  double  desks  are  used,)  is  less  than 
fifteen  cents  for  his  whole  school-going  time. 

Price  of  Ink  Wells  —  per  dozen,  $3.50;  necessary  keys  furnished  gratis. 
Address 

HENRY  M.  SHERWOOD, 

f  First  door  West  of  the \     flHIfljinQ    IU, 

\        Post  office.       ;    tillvAuV,  ILL, 


No.  21  Lombard  Block, 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

RENEWALS  ONLY — TEL.  NO.  642-3405 
This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


•  1 

&m_  itmu  .mm  *&-*.       I      l^X        Pi  f*1\ 

r\  »r*o    c\  nU 

REC'D  LD  DEC 

9  69  -3PM 

LD21A-60m-6,'69 
(J9096slO)476-A-32 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


